Australian customs last year seized more than 700,000 items of fake merchandise worth about $ 48.5 million, it has been revealed.
The haul was part of the $ 272 billion annual global trade in potentially dangerous bogus goods.
And it’s not just products being ripped off.
Groups selling counterfeits “lure consumers to their sites with paid online advertising and images from a brand’s most recent advertising campaign,” Tom Godfrey from consumer advocacy group CHOICE says.
“Counterfeiters also fake tags, receipts and authenticity cards making it even more challenging for consumers to work out the real deal.”
About two per cent of world trade is in fake goods and while imitation accessories, like shoes or handbags, aren’t dangerous many others could harm people, Mr Godfrey says.
“Pharmaceuticals and cosmetics sold overseas online are unregulated with no requirement for them to be produced in sanitary conditions,” he said.
“If you’re lucky, counterfeit perfume will only stain your clothes, but it may cause skin allergies, burns and trigger respiratory problems.”
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