This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/business/8178959.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| 'Fake UK sites' trick consumers | 'Fake UK sites' trick consumers |
| (about 18 hours later) | |
| Trading standards officers say that consumers are being tricked into buying fake goods on the internet by companies pretending to be based in the UK. | Trading standards officers say that consumers are being tricked into buying fake goods on the internet by companies pretending to be based in the UK. |
| The websites are often based in China, but use "co.uk" as part of their domain name, giving shoppers a false sense of security, they say. | The websites are often based in China, but use "co.uk" as part of their domain name, giving shoppers a false sense of security, they say. |
| It is thought that there could be as many as 480,000 websites which carry "co.uk", but which are not UK based. | It is thought that there could be as many as 480,000 websites which carry "co.uk", but which are not UK based. |
| The sites sell a range of goods from trainers to hair straighteners. | The sites sell a range of goods from trainers to hair straighteners. |
| 'Taken in' | 'Taken in' |
| Matthew Brown was taken in by a website called trainers9.co.uk. | Matthew Brown was taken in by a website called trainers9.co.uk. |
| "As soon as I opened the box I realised they were fake trainers," he said. | "As soon as I opened the box I realised they were fake trainers," he said. |
| There doesn't need to be a UK link Paul Miloseski-Reid, trading standards officer | There doesn't need to be a UK link Paul Miloseski-Reid, trading standards officer |
| But the fact that delivery was promised in less than three days, together with the apparently British address, convinced him that the site was genuine. | But the fact that delivery was promised in less than three days, together with the apparently British address, convinced him that the site was genuine. |
| "It also had the safe purchase certificates at the bottom. So I was taken in by all that really." | "It also had the safe purchase certificates at the bottom. So I was taken in by all that really." |
| Open to abuse | Open to abuse |
| Trading standards officer believe the "co.uk" suffix is lulling consumers into a sense of false security. | Trading standards officer believe the "co.uk" suffix is lulling consumers into a sense of false security. |
| In fact it offers no protection whatsoever, and certainly does not mean the site is operated by a UK company. | In fact it offers no protection whatsoever, and certainly does not mean the site is operated by a UK company. |
| Internet security expert Tom Ilube said the methods fraudsters used to set up false websites and confuse people were getting more focused and professional. | |
| He advised people to reduce the risks of being duped by: | He advised people to reduce the risks of being duped by: |
| • Searching for any user reviews of the site; | • Searching for any user reviews of the site; |
| • Double clicking on the padlock symbol in the corner to reveal details about the company that registered the site; and | • Double clicking on the padlock symbol in the corner to reveal details about the company that registered the site; and |
| • Trying to connect the site to the real world by finding phone numbers or UK addresses. | • Trying to connect the site to the real world by finding phone numbers or UK addresses. |
| Anyone prepared to give their name and address, and pay £5, can buy a co.uk domain name for a two-year period. | Anyone prepared to give their name and address, and pay £5, can buy a co.uk domain name for a two-year period. |
| In total about 6% of registrations for "co.uk" domain names come from foreign companies, mostly based in China. | In total about 6% of registrations for "co.uk" domain names come from foreign companies, mostly based in China. |
| Vigilance | Vigilance |
| "There doesn't need to be a UK link," says Paul Miloseski-Reid, a trading standards officer based in Richmond, Surrey. | "There doesn't need to be a UK link," says Paul Miloseski-Reid, a trading standards officer based in Richmond, Surrey. |
| "So it's really open to abuse by criminals who want to pretend they're local, when they're selling unsafe, counterfeit goods." | "So it's really open to abuse by criminals who want to pretend they're local, when they're selling unsafe, counterfeit goods." |
| In a survey of 52 countries, trading standards found that most countries have far tougher rules than the UK. | In a survey of 52 countries, trading standards found that most countries have far tougher rules than the UK. |
| Usually they demand some sort of link with the country whose domain name they are adopting. | Usually they demand some sort of link with the country whose domain name they are adopting. |
| Nominet, which is responsible for giving out domain names in the UK, is unrepentant. | Nominet, which is responsible for giving out domain names in the UK, is unrepentant. |
| It is proud of the fact that eight million "co.uk" addresses are now in existence, and that the UK operates one of the most liberal internet regimes in the world. | It is proud of the fact that eight million "co.uk" addresses are now in existence, and that the UK operates one of the most liberal internet regimes in the world. |
| We ask Nick Wenban-Smith, the legal counsel for Nominet, whether consumers are being hood-winked by the "co.uk" name. | We ask Nick Wenban-Smith, the legal counsel for Nominet, whether consumers are being hood-winked by the "co.uk" name. |
| "Maybe," he replies tentatively. "People need to be vigilant." | "Maybe," he replies tentatively. "People need to be vigilant." |
| If consumers are unsure about the origins of a website, the advice is to use the "Whois" tool, on Nominet's website . | If consumers are unsure about the origins of a website, the advice is to use the "Whois" tool, on Nominet's website . |
| Options | Options |
| Using that tool, we traced Matthew Brown's fake Nike trainers to Fuzhou, in Western China. | Using that tool, we traced Matthew Brown's fake Nike trainers to Fuzhou, in Western China. |
| When we contacted the company, trainers9.co.uk, they did promise to carry out an internal investigation. | When we contacted the company, trainers9.co.uk, they did promise to carry out an internal investigation. |
| But practically speaking, Matthew has few options. | But practically speaking, Matthew has few options. |
| Neither Paypal nor his credit card company are prepared to accept any responsibility. | Neither Paypal nor his credit card company are prepared to accept any responsibility. |
| His only option is to post his trainers back to China, and ask for a refund. | His only option is to post his trainers back to China, and ask for a refund. |
| But he does not think that option is worth trying. | But he does not think that option is worth trying. |