The unpredictable matrix of counterfeit goods

The problem of counterfeit goods not only causes serious economic damage to consumers and legitimate businesses, but also directly threatens the health and even lives of people. The market has never witnessed such diversity, sophistication and boldness of counterfeit goods as it does today.

Officials of the Department of Industry and Trade propagate the Law on Consumer Protection to small traders in Tan Thinh ward, Hoa Binh city.

In recent years, online shopping has grown rapidly. This form opens up many business opportunities for businesses and individuals and convenience for consumers. However, along with those benefits are many risks. On e-commerce platforms, consumers can easily find attractively advertised products at surprisingly low prices. But behind the low prices are potential risks when many products are counterfeit, fake, infringing on intellectual property rights, and of unknown origin.

Many sellers also take advantage of e-commerce platforms and social networks, labeling "hand-carried goods" and "cheap sale goods" to sell fake and poor quality goods. Especially in rural, mountainous, remote areas, they are becoming ideal consumption points because people lack knowledge and have low incomes. Many electrical equipment items such as rechargeable fans, ceiling fans, wall fans, etc. do not have warranty cards or information about origin. Ms. Nguyen Thi Hai An, Tan Thinh Ward, Hoa Binh City said: I saw a beautiful and cheap ceiling fan product online, so I ordered it. The product only worked for a few days and then broke down, without warranty or repair.

Not only consumer goods, counterfeit goods are also creeping into meals and medicine cabinets of families, making it difficult for consumers to distinguish. Items such as sunscreen, skin whitening cosmetics, functional foods, western medicine, medicinal herbs, fish sauce, bean sprouts soaked in chemicals, rice, etc. are all counterfeited with increasingly sophisticated tricks. It is not difficult to find counterfeit goods on the market.

Faced with the increasingly complex problem of counterfeit goods, consumers are the ones most directly and severely affected. The general psychology is anxiety, confusion and a gradual loss of confidence in the market. Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoa in Tan Hoa ward, Hoa Binh city shared: Seeing the problem of counterfeit goods on the mass media, I feel confused. Now when going to the market or supermarket to buy things, I always have to think carefully. I don't know if the milk for my children is real or fake. I'm afraid of chemicals in vegetables. Even cakes and candies have to be considered. For the same product, if the price of two stores is a little different, there is suspicion. It's really insecure...

Many consumers say it is difficult to distinguish between genuine and fake products, especially with sophisticated imitations. Conventional identification methods such as checking packaging and barcodes are sometimes no longer effective. This leads to fear and even avoidance of buying products of unknown origin or sold on social networks.

Mr. Tran Van Hung in Thai Binh ward, Hoa Binh city, who almost bought fake medicine for his father with heart disease, shared: "The fake packaging was exactly like the real thing, and there was also an anti-counterfeit stamp. Luckily, I was careful to take it to a large pharmacy to have it checked again and found out it was fake. The doctor said that if my father took that fake medicine, the consequences could be very dangerous. Whoever does this job is so evil, making money on the suffering, even the lives of others. I request that the authorities take strong action to strictly handle those who produce and distribute these fake goods."

To combat the problem of counterfeit goods, especially in the fields of food, beverages, medicines, etc., people need to improve their knowledge of the law and the harmful effects of counterfeit goods to become smart consumers. Mr. Hoang Trong Hoa, Chairman of the Provincial Association for the Protection of Consumer Rights, said: Recently, the Provincial Association for the Protection of Consumer Rights has not received any reports of counterfeit goods in the province. However, it cannot be affirmed that there are no counterfeit goods in the province, but that people cannot distinguish between genuine and counterfeit goods, or that they have not seriously harmed consumers. Therefore, people must get into the habit of carefully checking product information before buying, prioritizing purchases at reputable addresses with clear invoices and documents. When detecting suspicious signs, boldly report them to the authorities. Do not buy poor quality goods because of cheapness, causing harm to yourself and your family.

Viet Lam

Source: https://baohoabinh.com.vn/274/201690/Kho-luong-ma-tran-hang-gia.htm