Local authorities in UAE, in partnership with HP, have successfully seized a huge haul of around 1.5 million illicit items, in the Emirate of UMM Al Quwain. In December 2021, two vast raids were carried out by local authorities at residential premises which were used as hidden counterfeiting sites, using intelligence gathered by local HP partners, shutting down major sources of counterfeit cartridges for HP printers.
“The sale of counterfeit printer and toner cartridges is a criminal offence, and for sellers and distributers to trade in counterfeits they are committing an infringement of intellectual property. This can have serious reputational repercussions in the eye of the consumer as illicit products can deliver a sub-standard experience and cause damage to hardware. Authentic ink and toner cartridges have been developed to deliver consistent quality results that consumers can rely on,” said Vishnu Taimni, Managing Director HP Middle East & Turkey.
He added “HP is proud of its strong and long-standing partnership with local authorities and partners across UAE, which is leading to some wins in the fight against fraudulent print supplies. The continued success of our ACF programme in the region demonstrates that HP remains committed to protecting customers from illegal schemes.”
HP offers its customers and partners “Customer Delivery Inspections”. This is a unique protection service which helps them identify and avoid potential counterfeits. The inspections are carried out at the customers’ premises and are free of charge for customers. If counterfeits are suspected, the inspector will ask for the name of the supplier and a copy of the proof of purchase to identify where the counterfeit products came from. These inspections are a key way of protecting HP’s valued customers from poor quality fakes, which may have worked their way into the supply chain.
