WINNIPEG – With one month before Christmas, the shopping rush is kicking into high gear.
This holiday season, MasterCard estimates 51 per cent of Canadians will shop online.
More people are turning to the Internet to find the perfect gifts and that means more counterfeit goods are being sold.
“It’s a growing problem,” said Cpl. John Montgomery, with the RCMP Federal Serious and Organized Crime division.
Montgomery said selling counterfeit products can sometimes be more profitable and less risky than selling illegal drugs.
He has seen everything from fake golf clubs to Beats headphones being bought by unsuspecting Winnipeggers.
UGG boots are also a popular item for counterfeit copycats.
“They look good, but when you actually pick them up and put them on, they are just not what you would think they should be and if you ever compare it to an actual UGG boot, the difference is quite alarming,” said Montgomery.
He said websites with broken English, vague return policies and steep discounts could be selling fakes.
“It’s always buyer beware and just be sure of where you are buying it from and really if it sounds too good to be true it usually is,” said Montgomery, who added it is always best to buy from a company’s official website.
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