DUBAI // Counterfeit car parts worth an estimated Dh3 million have been seized by consumer protection inspectors after a raid on a warehouse.
The raid by the Commercial Compliance and Consumer Protection (CCCP) section of the Department of Economic Development (Ded) on a warehouse in Dubai Investments Park followed a tip-off.
It came just days after Oman’s consumer protection agency reported that the majority of counterfeit goods seized in the first half of this year are believed to have come from the UAE.
The operation was part of an ongoing offensive to protect trademarks and intellectual property.
“The recent seizure of counterfeit car parts is our largest so far and came after intense follow-up of consumer complaints, field visits, and random inspection by our team,” said Abdulla Al Shehi, the director of compliance and consumer protection at the CCCP.
“We identify the right means to detect counterfeit products by working with brand owners or their representatives in Dubai.”
Inspectors also found 16,000 posters with forged logos and a special device used to print the logos. The seized parts included 27,700 air and oil filters, 4,000 bolts and 3,000 fan belts, plus brake systems, valves and bonnets.
Mr Al Shehi said the fake parts have been destroyed and the owners of the goods fined. Ahmad Al Awadi, section head of the CCCP, said his department was determined to crack down on the commercial fraud of materials, goods and services and protect trademarks.
“The CCCP’s efforts in this regard are part of Ded’s focus on enhancing service quality and customer satisfaction through eliminating negative practices,” he said. “Ded also adopts transparent measures in acting against commercial fraud and implementing the relevant laws and regulations.”
According to officials in Oman, counterfeiting is a growing problem there with a 12 per cent increase in the number of fake goods entering the country compared with the first six months of 2011. A third of these came through the UAE.
About 40,000 counterfeit parts were seized in the first half of 2012 – 75 per cent of which came from the Emirates.
According to official data, high on the list are fake car parts, electronic games and medicines.
“Fake car parts can kill but, despite the ads warning of this, business is still thriving,” said Said Al Saifi, an authorised agent of Toyota parts based in Muscat.
The fake parts arrive in Oman mostly at border crossings and by sea, according to the state-run Consumer Protection Agency.
The sultanate shares three borders with the UAE.
nhanif@thenational.ae
The National in Davos
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What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
Why it pays to compare
A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.
Route 1: bank transfer
The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.
Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount
Total received: €4,670.30
Route 2: online platform
The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.
Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction
Total received: €4,756
The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.
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The specs
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Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
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Tom Finney 30
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Alan Shearer 30
Viv Woodward 29
Frank Lampard 29
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
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Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind