Claw machines found to have fake perfumes

Ayra Wang

Fake perfumes were found in claw machine shops for the first time in a crackdown on counterfeit goods that led to the arrest of eight people.

Customs officers have seized around 5,000 units of allegedly fake merchandise, including cosmetic and skincare products, as well as six claw machines and three coin exchange machines worth about HK$330,000.

The arrests and seizures came after raids on 10 merchants in Mong Kok, Kwai Chung, Tsuen Wan, Tung Chung and Sai Kung - three pharmacies, four retail shops and three claw machine shops - from August 8 to August 20.

Chau Hoi-man, a senior inspector of Intellectual Property General Investigation Unit 3 of the Customs and Excise Department, said four men and four women, aged 20 to 46, have been arrested.

"Three of them are in charge of relevant shops, five are staff and all of them are suspected of violating the Trade Descriptions Ordinance and have been released on bail pending further investigation," Chau said.

The fake items were purported to be from 10 luxury brand labels, such as Dior, Chanel, Givenchy and YSL, Chau said, and were only sold for HK$30 to HK$350 - 50 to 80 percent cheaper than the genuine article.

"The capacity of most fake products is between 1.5 and 15 milliliters, which shops would falsely claim to customers as test products sold at a discounted price. Yet genuine products do not have such versions available on the market," he added.

Chau also said this is the first time the department had seized fake perfumes in claw machines.

He said shops would fill claw machines with fake brand-name perfumes instead of toys to attract customers.

"Shops offered counterfeit perfumes to reduce operational costs, regardless of the health risk to consumers," Chau said.

It is understood that each game for these claw machines costs HK$5. All seized machines belong to the same owner. The department is investigating whether the owner has violated the law.

Chau said samples of seized products will be taken to the Government Laboratory to test for harmful substances, though the department has yet to receive any reports of people becoming unwell after using the products.

"The seized products were intended for direct use on skin, which makes their quality and safety vital for consumers," he added.

Chau called on people to buy products at reputable shops and warned merchants to be careful when purchasing products as selling counterfeit goods can result in up to five years in prison and HK$500,000 fine.

ayra.wang@singtaonewscorp.com