Counterfeit crime on increase 

More counterfeit items are being confiscated at New Zealand borders than ever before as part of the fight against a global rip-off industry that is estimated at a staggering $500 billion.

Over 250,000 products were seized in the year to June 2006, reflecting an upward trend over the last few years.

According to Customs spokesman Terry Brown there has been a 300% increase in copycat goods since 2001.

Items include everything from rip-off toys, clothes, perfume and shoes, to DVDs and electronics.

Many are popular brands but consumers are being told to always take a second look as counterfeit goods can be very hard to spot.

Brown says one example was a pair of Reebok pants that could only be identified as fakes after they were sent to the Reebok laboratory in Paris. Only then could they be confirmed as counterfeit through the quality of stitching.

Furthermore, counterfeit products are increasingly dangerous, some even with the potential to explode, such as cell phone chargers and batteries which do not have vital safety wiring.

Brown says imported popular pills are not likely to work either. Viagra fakes that claim to contain the same active ingredients are not the genuine article.

And what happens to the seized items?

All counterfeit goods are destroyed. Items such as clothing are shredded and perfumes are sent to a chemical waste company.