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HP raids Pretoria fraudsters


Johannesburg, 26 Oct 2011

Computing company HP has made a local seizure of counterfeit printing supplies destined for HP printers.

The company says it assisted South African law enforcement officials, who confiscated about 3 200 fake laser print cartridges, in a highly co-ordinated strike in Pretoria.

“The police action saw authorities raid the offices and warehouses of three companies. In addition to the illegal items, police confiscated documents and other valuable intelligence that will lead to additional anti-counterfeit actions.”

The hit to the counterfeiting network, which had imported fake goods from China via Port of Durban, is expected to reduce the level of counterfeit products being distributed in the region, according to HP.

“People who buy counterfeit print cartridges and other fake merchandise believe mistakenly that they're receiving original products, and they deserve the... performance for which they're paying,” says GM for HP IPG in SA Fabrice Campoy.

Police lead

The company adds that over the last four years, it has assisted in the seizure of nearly nine million pieces of fake printing supplies, products and components in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Globally, it has conducted about 5 000 investigations in almost 90 countries over the last four years, resulting in the seizure of more than 30 million units of counterfeit cartridges and components.

Any enforcement action is led by either police (criminal) or an administrative organisation.

“Through its Anti-Counterfeiting Programme, HP actively educates its customers and partners to be vigilant against fake printing supplies. It also co-operates closely with local and global law enforcement to detect and dismantle illegal operations that produce counterfeit HP printing components.”

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