Hong Kong customs makes first-ever arrests over sale of fake goods via live webcast
- The pair, both aged 30, are accused of touting accessories bearing forged trademarks through live shows on social media
- They have been released on bail, while officers are investigating the source of about 2,000 suspected fake items found in a Sha Tin flat
Hong Kong customs has made its first-ever arrests over the sale of counterfeit goods via a live webcast on social media, detaining a couple and seizing HK$100,000 (US$13,000) worth of knock-off brand accessories.
The couple, both aged 30, were accused of setting up a web page on social media and touting accessories bearing forged trademarks – such as earrings, scarves and ornaments – through live shows, according to Wong Che-yin, head of customs’ intellectual property technology crime investigation division.
To avoid detection, the pair ran the webcast late at night. The weekly event lasted for five to six hours and attracted 50 to 60 viewers during the peak period.
“The sellers did not appear in front of a camera during the webcast,” he said.
Interested buyers were asked to leave their contacts on the webpage and were later instructed to transfer money to a designated bank account before the goods were delivered, according to the Customs and Excise Department.
“The fake accessories were sold for between HK$20 and HK$100 each – around 5 per cent of the original price of their genuine counterparts,” Wong said.