Fake Samsung phones and accessories worth RM25,000 seized

RM25,000 worth of 'fake' Samsung handphones and accessories were seized during a raid by the Kedah Ministry of Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism (KPDNKK) on Thursday.

In the operation called ‘Ops Samsung’, the authorities raided four handphone shops together with a Samsung representative from Kuala Lumpur.

Enforcement officers, during the 11am raid at a shopping mall along Jalan Putra, Alor Setar, Kedah, found and confiscated four mobile phones and a number of accessories.

The phones are believed to be imported from China and sold between RM50-RM400 per unit, while originals comparable to those items seized could cost more than RM2,000 per piece.

KPDNKK Kedah deputy director Khalid Tik said that initial investigations found that the syndicate owned over a thousand offices in Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh and Georgetown and had been using the Samsung brand to cheat its customers.

“Their modus operandi is to tell the customers that these products are original Samsung when they are actually imported from China,” said Khalid.

He added that these imitations are almost the same in shape, colour and quality compared to the original.

“They only do not have the security stickers, though they have the original Samsung stickers,” he said.

Meanwhile, Samsung representative Eow Khean Fatt said that the raids were conducted following complaints from the state Samsung supplier of imitation products being sold.

“Whenever you feel doubtful over a product just call Samsung,” said Eow.

KPDNKK Kedah said that ‘stern action’ would be taken against the owner of the premises under Section 41 of the Trade Descriptions Act 2011.

If found guilty, an individual can be fined up to RM100,000 while RM 250,000 for companies, or jailed six months, or both.