(Copyright: Toner Printer Copier)
HP’s Anti-Counterfeiting and Fraud Team has assisted officials in Kenya with the closing down of a local counterfeiting operation.
As Jeanette Oloo of allAfrica reports, HP has aided Kenyan officials in the closure of a local counterfeiting business, with authorities confiscating approximately 100 ready-for-sale toner cartridges as well as 8,400 “illicit components” which were ready for use in manufacturing more counterfeits.
“The local business’ illicit counterfeiting arm had been operating out of a hidden warehouse. By working closely with HP’s Anti-Counterfeiting and Fraud team, Kenyan officials were able to identify the fact that the business was manufacturing fake print supplies and intercept the products made for market,” declared the OEM’s statement.
HP and local investigators gathered their information about the illegal operation through the carrying out of “routine market inspections” by HP.
“Counterfeiting is a crime. For users, such illegal imitations can cause a multitude of problems that can cause performance and reliability issues. Should your printer break because of using counterfeit printer ink or toner, you could also have issues with your manufacturer’s warranty becoming not applicable,” the company’s statement added.
As part of its war against counterfeiting, HP launched an Anti-Counterfeiting and Fraud Programme that “actively educates its customers and partners to be vigilant against fake printing supplies”; in addition, HP works closely with local authorities around the world “to detect and dismantle illegal operations that produce counterfeit HP printing components.”
During the course of the last five years, the OEM has already helped local authorities confiscate approximately 12 million counterfeits and components, and has conducted more than 4,500 “audits and inspections” of its partners’ stocks and suspicious deliveries.