An eBay trader had over 3,000 children’s costumes seized by West Yorkshire Trading Standards yesterday (22 February 2018).
The fancy dress costumes were seized just ahead of World Book Day, a key period for children’s dress-up sales. If genuine, then the total cost of the items taken off the market would have been over £80,000.
The trading standards team worked in conjuction with West Yorkshire Police and Brand Protection Officers from Rubie’s Masquerade to execute the warrant at the eBay trader’s home address in order to seize the counterfeit and unsafe kids’ costumes.
“I am grateful to West Yorkshire Trading Standards Service and West Yorkshire Police for the action taken today,” said Mike O’Connell, global head of antipiracy at Rubie’s Masquerade. “We will continue to support authorities to take action against traders who commit such crimes.”
“We are delighted with the result of this operation and I thank all the partners involved,” said David Lodge, head of West Yorkshire Trading Standards Service. “Some may think selling counterfeit goods is a harmless crime but it has shown to have an adverse effect on the UK economy and put peoples’ health at risk because many of these goods do not meet the relevant safety standards.”
Counterfeit goods – including fancy dress costumes – cost the UK economy billions of pounds a year. The unregulated nature of these costumes also increases the risk of them causing serious injury.
Anyone with concerns about counterfeit product can call the Citizens Advice helpline on +44 (0) 3454 040506.
