Over 50 websites closed for selling counterfeit goods

Dubai - The  Commercial Compliance and Consumer Protection Division of the Department of Economic Development (DED) has shut down more than 50 e-commerce websites that were caught selling fake and duplicate goods. The websites were being followed by more than 1 million people.

“Before taking action, there are certain matters through which we ascertain and confirm if the websites were operating from Dubai, said Ibrahim Behzad, Director of the Intellectual Property Protection section at the Commercial Compliance and Consumer Protection Division at DED.

The closure was done in collaboration with a specialist company that had cooperation agreements with international companies that sell products online, as well as the social network websites like Twitter and Facebook. “The sites were closed within 48 hours after DED received authentic information that the companies were selling duplicate goods in local market,” he said.

DED found that the erring e-commerce websites were operating illegally and would dispatch the sold goods directly to the consumer and get the value in cash. They did not allow the use of credit cards in transactions. The most popular products that were sold on these unauthorised websites were watches, sunglasses, women’s handbags and clutches and accessories.

Other products being promoted by these websites were aphrodisiacs and slimming medicines ( for weight loss) that were being sold without physician’s prescriptions and were found to be contrary to the set standards and specifications, said Ibrahim Behzad.

Behzad also offered tips to consumers to avoid dealing and with unauthorised websites and to protect and preserve their rights.

He urged the public to call the toll free number 600545555 to find out if any particular website — from which they want to shop — is licensed before shopping online. The authorised website number often has a landline phone number and will issue a bill if you buy any product from them and in the event of electrical equipment the seller will issue a warranty plus the bill. -salah@khaleejtimes.com