Del Boy may be a loveable TV rogue, but the real peddlers of counterfeit goods have links to organised crime and may even be putting your life in danger. Each year before Christmas counterfeiters gear up for their busiest season of the year. 

Avoiding the cons

Here are some simple tips to help you spot a fake.

Prices: shoppers should be wary of 'too good to be true' bargains - if it costs less than half the normal price, it could be a fake.

Retail outlets: be wary of goods sold at car boot sales, street markets, short-term lease shops on the high street, pubs or clubs.

Shoes and clothing: counterfeiters will concentrate on making the outside of a garment look as convincing as possible but will cut corners on other areas of manufacture. So don't just look at the logos and obvious labels on a garment, but also examine stitching and seams inside and look carefully for poor-quality seals between the upper and sole on shoes.

Perfumes and cosmetics: poor-quality labels and packaging are often a give-away, particularly on fragrances. However, if the product is shrink-wrapped it can look very convincing and the content cannot be tested. Counterfeit traders will offer a demonstration of a genuine perfume so it is easy to be duped. Remember that high-class designer fragrances are only sold in specially selected, upmarket outlets.

Watches: if suspicious about the credentials of a watch, handle the strap - fakes will feel lightweight and sound tinny when shaken. Logos and brand names are often poorly fixed to the dial of fake watches.

Toys: fake toys are particularly worrying as safety standards adhered to by legitimate manufacturers are ignored by counterfeiters although they will often include fake CE labels to make the goods look genuine. Counterfeiters can undercut legitimate manufacturers by skimping on the quality and finishing of toys and not submitting them to safety tests, but these are also the very things that make fake toys potentially lethal for children. The advice is always to buy from recognised toy retailers.

Alcohol: during 2003 deadly counterfeit spirits were found to contain high levels of methanol, a chemical that can cause blindness and lead to coma and death. In March 2004, a woman in Scotland died after drinking counterfeit vodka. ACG advises shoppers to purchase their 'Christmas cheer' only from reputable retail outlets.

If you think you have found a bargain elsewhere, check the labels carefully as counterfeiters often make mistakes in spelling or omit items of small print from the label. Also check closures on bottle caps as counterfeiters have been known to take empty genuine bottles and refill with fake spirits. If there's something not quite right about the bottle don't buy it.

The top 10 Christmas fakes in 2003 were:

1. Computer games;

2. DVDs and videos;

3. Character merchandise (e.g. clothing, accessories and toys featuring children's television characters);

4. Clothing and footwear - especially sportswear;

5. Music CDs;

6. Designer accessories, such as handbags, watches, belts etc.;

7. Perfume and cosmetics;

8. Wines and spirits;

9. Business software;

10. Electrical goods.

Been conned? Now what?

Shoppers who have been conned into buying fakes have no guarantee or recourse to the original brand owner. The traders are usually 'here today, gone tomorrow' characters so getting a refund is not likely. However, shoppers who think they may have been offered, or purchased, counterfeit goods should contact the Trading Standards Department at their Local Authority who will bring criminal proceedings against anyone involved in the manufacture or sale of counterfeits.

Further information

The Anti-Counterfeiting Group (ACG) is a non-profit trade association, representing over 200 companies in 30 different countries operating in all sectors of industry from toys to pharmaceuticals, clothing to car parts, watches to ice-cream. Visit the ACG website: www.a-cg.com