0:00:02 > 0:00:05Welcome to a world where nothing is quite as it seems.
0:00:05 > 0:00:07Welcome to Fake Britain.
0:00:08 > 0:00:10Police!
0:00:20 > 0:00:22Get down! Get down on the floor now!
0:00:22 > 0:00:23Put your hands behind your back now!
0:00:25 > 0:00:26Here at the Fake Britain house,
0:00:26 > 0:00:29we'll reveal the fakes that are flooding the market,
0:00:29 > 0:00:33conning people like you and me and making money for the criminals.
0:00:33 > 0:00:37We'll investigate the fraudsters who are selling us something
0:00:37 > 0:00:40that isn't real and could be dangerous.
0:00:40 > 0:00:43And we'll help you avoid falling for a fake.
0:00:44 > 0:00:46Today on fake Britain:
0:00:46 > 0:00:50The faux fur that's actually real animal fur
0:00:50 > 0:00:53and the high street chains that have been selling it.
0:00:53 > 0:00:57It is definitely not false fur so if somebody was buying this
0:00:57 > 0:01:02hoping to avoid fur products, I'm afraid they have been misled.
0:01:03 > 0:01:06The faker who conned jobseekers out of thousands
0:01:06 > 0:01:09and then implicated one of his own victims in the crime.
0:01:09 > 0:01:14I had a knock on the door and all I heard was, "Police! Police!"
0:01:14 > 0:01:16They may look cute on the outside,
0:01:16 > 0:01:20but inside, these fake nightlights are seriously ugly.
0:01:20 > 0:01:23There is no doubt in my mind that a fault on the electronics,
0:01:23 > 0:01:27in certain circumstances the product could actually catch fire.
0:01:27 > 0:01:31And fake boxing gear that is leaving gym goers back and blue.
0:01:31 > 0:01:34If you are wearing fake shinpads and you kick someone
0:01:34 > 0:01:36you could break your tibia so easy.
0:01:36 > 0:01:40If you wear a fake head guard, what price do you put on your brain?
0:01:46 > 0:01:51Could you tell the difference between real fur and faux fur?
0:01:51 > 0:01:55Wearing imitation fur is a choice made by lots of people
0:01:55 > 0:01:58who think real fur is cruel and unnecessary.
0:01:58 > 0:02:01Unsurprisingly, the fakers have been keen
0:02:01 > 0:02:04to get their grubby paws on the fur market.
0:02:04 > 0:02:10But unbelievably, they're not selling fake fur and pretending it's real.
0:02:10 > 0:02:12It's the other way round.
0:02:12 > 0:02:16All of this is real fur that was sold as a synthetic fur.
0:02:16 > 0:02:18It's fake faux fur.
0:02:18 > 0:02:21And it is deceiving people who might be horrified
0:02:21 > 0:02:24to find they are wearing the real thing.
0:02:24 > 0:02:26It's making a lot of money for the fakers.
0:02:29 > 0:02:31Faux fur is the perfect way to have the look
0:02:31 > 0:02:36and feel of real fur without any animals being harmed.
0:02:36 > 0:02:40And it has become so popular that in the last two years alone, the number
0:02:40 > 0:02:44of new synthetic fur products for sale in the UK has more than doubled.
0:02:44 > 0:02:47I think in this day of garment technology
0:02:47 > 0:02:50there's no need for real fur to be used at all.
0:02:50 > 0:02:53I am totally against real fur and I would expect that most things
0:02:53 > 0:02:55available to us would be faux fur anyway.
0:02:56 > 0:02:59But fakers are getting in on the fur action
0:02:59 > 0:03:03and selling fake faux fur, which means that, horrifyingly,
0:03:03 > 0:03:07some of the synthetic fur on your high street is not synthetic at all.
0:03:07 > 0:03:09It's real.
0:03:13 > 0:03:17Boudicca Lee is an animal rights blogger from Croydon in south London.
0:03:17 > 0:03:21She has noticed real fur for sale on her local high street
0:03:21 > 0:03:24and believes fakers are trying to pass it off as faux fur.
0:03:26 > 0:03:27Here we have a hat.
0:03:29 > 0:03:32A little hat. Very, very sweet.
0:03:32 > 0:03:37But if you have a look at the label, the label is 64% acrylic, 36% wool.
0:03:37 > 0:03:39So no fur mentioned there at all.
0:03:39 > 0:03:42I believe this is real fur rather than fake fur
0:03:42 > 0:03:45because it is on a lining of skin.
0:03:45 > 0:03:47Fake fur is on a bed of fabric
0:03:47 > 0:03:50and real fur is on a lining of skin or leather.
0:03:50 > 0:03:55She also bought a coat costing £30 and a cardigan costing £10.
0:03:55 > 0:03:59Just like the hat, both items have a fur trim
0:03:59 > 0:04:03but neither has a label saying what it's made of and that is illegal.
0:04:05 > 0:04:08Sylvia Rook is a trading standards officer.
0:04:08 > 0:04:11If you've got fur trim on a garment, the law says that it needs to say
0:04:11 > 0:04:14that it contains products of animal origin
0:04:14 > 0:04:17so that you know that there's something from an animal
0:04:17 > 0:04:19on the garment.
0:04:19 > 0:04:22If the label makes no mention of any fur,
0:04:22 > 0:04:25the natural conclusion is that the garment doesn't contain any.
0:04:25 > 0:04:28So real fur, not labelled,
0:04:28 > 0:04:31could easily be mistaken for good quality faux fur.
0:04:32 > 0:04:35Is that real fur or is that fake fur?
0:04:36 > 0:04:38It looks pretty real.
0:04:40 > 0:04:43If I was a betting man I would say it is fake.
0:04:43 > 0:04:47From a high street shop I would assume that it was fake fur.
0:04:48 > 0:04:52Fake Britain wanted to find out what the garments Boudicca bought
0:04:52 > 0:04:54are really made from.
0:04:54 > 0:04:57So we took them to Dr Phil Greaves at Microtex near Leeds.
0:04:57 > 0:05:01With 40 years' experience of studying different fibres,
0:05:01 > 0:05:04he can tell just from a quick glance through a microscope
0:05:04 > 0:05:06what type of animal the fur comes from.
0:05:06 > 0:05:09This is definitely an animal fibre.
0:05:09 > 0:05:12The first one he tests is the cardigan.
0:05:12 > 0:05:15This is very, very closely resembling mink.
0:05:16 > 0:05:18Next, Dr Greaves looks at the hat.
0:05:21 > 0:05:24I would say these are most like weasel.
0:05:24 > 0:05:27It is definitely not false fur, so if somebody was buying this
0:05:27 > 0:05:33hoping to avoid fur products, I'm afraid they have been misled.
0:05:33 > 0:05:36The fur on the third item, the coat,
0:05:36 > 0:05:40comes from an animal you may not be familiar with - the raccoon dog.
0:05:42 > 0:05:45It is a type of wild dog commonly found in Asia.
0:05:45 > 0:05:48They are known as raccoon dogs because of their distinct markings.
0:05:50 > 0:05:52Ventura Wildlife keeps raccoon dogs
0:05:52 > 0:05:55at its conservation centre in north London.
0:05:55 > 0:05:57Ashley Palmier is the director.
0:05:58 > 0:06:00So this is Mango. She is one of our adult raccoon dogs.
0:06:00 > 0:06:02Raccoon dogs are fascinating creatures.
0:06:02 > 0:06:06They have this wonderful coat, especially in the winter time like it is now.
0:06:06 > 0:06:10It grows extra long and that is what is so beautiful to touch.
0:06:11 > 0:06:16But this lovely, fluffy coat is unfortunately what makes them perfect for the fur trade.
0:06:16 > 0:06:18And there's another reason too.
0:06:18 > 0:06:21They have massive litters and those big litters
0:06:21 > 0:06:25of anything up to 19 would be perfect if you were farming them for fur.
0:06:26 > 0:06:29But the fur farms are notorious for the horrendous way
0:06:29 > 0:06:31in which animals are treated.
0:06:31 > 0:06:35It's an issue that especially concerns Claire Bass from the Humane Society.
0:06:36 > 0:06:39Every year, hundreds of millions of animals are killed
0:06:39 > 0:06:41in the fur industry.
0:06:41 > 0:06:44Many of these animals will have led pitiful existences
0:06:44 > 0:06:48in tiny wire cages, barely bigger than themselves
0:06:48 > 0:06:52and then they will have experienced painful deaths by electrocution,
0:06:52 > 0:06:55by drowning, by being beaten to death and even skinned alive.
0:06:55 > 0:06:57So this is a major animal welfare problem.
0:06:57 > 0:07:01It is a very horrible thing to imagine this being skinned alive.
0:07:01 > 0:07:05As you can see, she is a wonderful creature. She is very friendly. She likes the affection.
0:07:05 > 0:07:08To be honest, it's quite saddening to all of us here
0:07:08 > 0:07:11that this sort of species is being used for the fur trade.
0:07:11 > 0:07:15Because of the intensive way animals like raccoon dogs are farmed,
0:07:15 > 0:07:18their fur can be produced surprisingly cheaply.
0:07:18 > 0:07:22What we've got here is raccoon dog fur trimming for hoods.
0:07:22 > 0:07:25The pricing is shockingly low.
0:07:25 > 0:07:27200 pieces the batches come in
0:07:27 > 0:07:32and they work out between 1 and 3 per piece.
0:07:32 > 0:07:36So you're looking at a 70 centimetre strip of animal fur
0:07:36 > 0:07:39for as little as about £1.
0:07:39 > 0:07:41For many people it can come as a surprise
0:07:41 > 0:07:44to learn that real fur can be quite so cheap.
0:07:45 > 0:07:47It is in fact faux fur.
0:07:47 > 0:07:50I don't think I would have the money to buy real fur.
0:07:50 > 0:07:53Looking at the price, probably the price could tell you
0:07:53 > 0:07:55it is not real fur because it is only £8.99,
0:07:55 > 0:07:57whereas probably the products with the real fur
0:07:57 > 0:08:00would be much more expensive than that.
0:08:00 > 0:08:02Traditionally, perhaps there's a perception
0:08:02 > 0:08:05that real fur is a great luxury and very expensive,
0:08:05 > 0:08:09and an item that's maybe £10 or £20 couldn't possibly be real fur.
0:08:10 > 0:08:14But consumers who think that need to think again because real fur
0:08:14 > 0:08:18nowadays can be purchased for far less than quality faux fur prices.
0:08:21 > 0:08:23So, by not labelling the fur as they should
0:08:23 > 0:08:27and by selling it cheaply, fakers are tricking consumers into buying
0:08:27 > 0:08:29a product they really don't want.
0:08:30 > 0:08:32But some have gone a step further.
0:08:32 > 0:08:37They're actually selling real fur clearly labelled as faux fur.
0:08:37 > 0:08:41And it's happening in well-known high street stores.
0:08:41 > 0:08:45Our researchers spent some time looking at a lot of UK websites,
0:08:45 > 0:08:48to look at their items labelled as faux fur,
0:08:48 > 0:08:52and they identified a few which they thought could be real fur.
0:08:52 > 0:08:54We then purchased a small number of these
0:08:54 > 0:08:57and in a number of cases this turned out to be the case.
0:08:57 > 0:08:59One of the garments they bought was a coat
0:08:59 > 0:09:02from the leading department store - House of Fraser.
0:09:02 > 0:09:05It's described on the website as having a faux fur trim on the hood.
0:09:05 > 0:09:09When we come to examine it, we find
0:09:09 > 0:09:12that it's actually real animal fur.
0:09:12 > 0:09:16There's a couple of ways to spot fake...faux from real fur.
0:09:16 > 0:09:19The first thing I'm looking at is the tapering of the hairs.
0:09:19 > 0:09:24So, with real fur the end of the hairs goes to a very thin,
0:09:24 > 0:09:28fine point and that doesn't tend to happen with faux fur.
0:09:28 > 0:09:33The other thing I'm looking at is the base of the fur.
0:09:33 > 0:09:34Then you see quite clearly
0:09:34 > 0:09:38the hairs are attached to a skin.
0:09:38 > 0:09:40But it wasn't just the coat.
0:09:40 > 0:09:44Researchers also found a pair of gloves with a fur trim
0:09:44 > 0:09:47sold by popular high street retailer - TK Maxx.
0:09:47 > 0:09:51On their website the trim is clearly described as faux fur.
0:09:51 > 0:09:56When they arrived we're able to see that, in fact,
0:09:56 > 0:09:59they are real animal fur, probably in this case, most likely,
0:09:59 > 0:10:03rabbit fur, although we'll have to get that tested to confirm it.
0:10:03 > 0:10:05Clare's suspicion was confirmed
0:10:05 > 0:10:08when we took the gloves to fibres expert, Dr Greaves.
0:10:08 > 0:10:11These have been dyed.
0:10:12 > 0:10:16And they have classic rabbit structures.
0:10:17 > 0:10:19So these are rabbit fur.
0:10:20 > 0:10:23Dr Greaves also examined the House of Fraser coat.
0:10:24 > 0:10:28And these fibres have the appearance of fox.
0:10:28 > 0:10:31I'm surprised that if it's claimed to be false fur,
0:10:31 > 0:10:33that it is actually animal fibre.
0:10:35 > 0:10:38So, that's five different types of real animal fur -
0:10:38 > 0:10:41weasel, mink, raccoon dog, rabbit and fox
0:10:41 > 0:10:44that Fake Britain found on the high street.
0:10:45 > 0:10:47And two of them were sold labelled as faux fur
0:10:47 > 0:10:49by well-known high street chains.
0:10:51 > 0:10:55If I bought these to find out these were actually real instead of fake
0:10:55 > 0:10:56I'd be furious.
0:10:56 > 0:10:58Absolutely furious.
0:10:58 > 0:11:00I would feel I was massively mis-sold a product that
0:11:00 > 0:11:04goes against everything I believe in.
0:11:04 > 0:11:07I'd be really annoyed at that. Really annoyed.
0:11:07 > 0:11:10Actually, I don't even want to hold it any more.
0:11:10 > 0:11:13But if people are buying fur without realising,
0:11:13 > 0:11:17they're contributing to an industry they didn't want anything to do with.
0:11:17 > 0:11:21That's giving a false impression of the demand for real fur.
0:11:21 > 0:11:24Every year, hundreds of millions of animals are killed in the fur industry.
0:11:24 > 0:11:27What we've found here with this short investigation,
0:11:27 > 0:11:29this snapshot of the market,
0:11:29 > 0:11:32is, potentially, a significant number of these animals are actually
0:11:32 > 0:11:37being mis-sold as faux fur which is artificially inflating
0:11:37 > 0:11:39the market for real fur.
0:11:39 > 0:11:43TK Maxx told us, it has had a long-standing no fur policy
0:11:43 > 0:11:48since 2003, and doesn't knowingly purchase items that contain real fur.
0:11:48 > 0:11:52Despite having been informed of this policy, one of its vendors
0:11:52 > 0:11:56mistakenly supplied gloves that contained real fur.
0:11:56 > 0:11:59TK Maxx regrets that its internal teams didn't catch this error
0:11:59 > 0:12:02and ensured these products weren't sold.
0:12:02 > 0:12:06It's refreshing its practices to avoid a similar error in the future.
0:12:08 > 0:12:12House of Fraser also told us it has a strict no fur policy
0:12:12 > 0:12:15and ensures all of its brands and suppliers are aware of this.
0:12:15 > 0:12:18It says, it was told by the brand that supplied the coat
0:12:18 > 0:12:21that it was made of 100% polyester and nylon.
0:12:21 > 0:12:24House of Fraser said it would never knowingly mislead its customers
0:12:24 > 0:12:28and is very disappointed by the behaviour of this particular brand.
0:12:28 > 0:12:31As a result, it's terminated its relationship with the brand
0:12:31 > 0:12:34and no longer stocks any of its products.
0:12:35 > 0:12:38The high street stores weren't the only one surprised
0:12:38 > 0:12:40by Fake Britain's revelations.
0:12:40 > 0:12:43Until this was brought to our attention by Fake Britain,
0:12:43 > 0:12:46we weren't aware that there were so many garments that were
0:12:46 > 0:12:48potentially being misdescribed in this way.
0:12:48 > 0:12:51I certainly feel this matter warrants further investigation
0:12:51 > 0:12:53by Trading Standards.
0:12:58 > 0:13:03Here on Fake Britain, we are no strangers to the stories of people
0:13:03 > 0:13:07who thought they'd landed a great new job only to find out it's a fake.
0:13:07 > 0:13:10It can be a very distressing experience
0:13:10 > 0:13:15and result in the loss of a lot of time, effort, confidence and money.
0:13:15 > 0:13:19But we've discovered it can be even worse than that.
0:13:19 > 0:13:23Because supplying personal details to a fraudster for a job application
0:13:23 > 0:13:26can also lead to very unpleasant surprises.
0:13:28 > 0:13:32It's reckoned that in 2013, almost 12 million people
0:13:32 > 0:13:35used the internet to look for work or apply for jobs.
0:13:35 > 0:13:39And one of them was product design graduate, Anamul Haque.
0:13:39 > 0:13:42When he needed a job, he went online.
0:13:42 > 0:13:45Before I graduated there were a lot of jobs available.
0:13:45 > 0:13:47Once I actually graduated the recession kicked in
0:13:47 > 0:13:51so I had a lot of stress in my head thinking, I need a job.
0:13:52 > 0:13:56Anamul uploaded his CV to the local classifieds website, Gumtree,
0:13:56 > 0:13:58and started applying for work.
0:13:58 > 0:14:01Soon he received an e-mail, saying he'd been offered
0:14:01 > 0:14:04a customer service position paying £23,000 a year.
0:14:05 > 0:14:08A lot of companies they need customer service.
0:14:08 > 0:14:10As I never had that before I thought,
0:14:10 > 0:14:12this is a new field for me to get into.
0:14:13 > 0:14:17To confirm the role, Anamul needed to supply a copy of his passport
0:14:17 > 0:14:19and National Insurance number,
0:14:19 > 0:14:23and undergo a Criminal Records Bureau, or CRB, check costing £50.
0:14:23 > 0:14:26This would have to be paid for in advance
0:14:26 > 0:14:28by an unusual means of payment.
0:14:28 > 0:14:32I was to go to the nearest PayPal shop and get a Ukash voucher.
0:14:32 > 0:14:34I didn't know what a Ukash voucher was.
0:14:34 > 0:14:39Ukash is a system that allows consumers to use cash to pay online.
0:14:39 > 0:14:42They hand over their money and in return get a voucher
0:14:42 > 0:14:46containing a code which is entered into the website they want to pay.
0:14:46 > 0:14:49The recipient uses the code to draw the payment
0:14:49 > 0:14:52into their own online account.
0:14:52 > 0:14:55Anamul went to his local shop and bought a Ukash voucher for £50,
0:14:55 > 0:14:58as required by the e-mail.
0:14:58 > 0:15:00I scanned a copy of my passport,
0:15:00 > 0:15:03I also scanned a copy of my National Insurance card,
0:15:03 > 0:15:07and I also gave them the Ukash voucher.
0:15:07 > 0:15:11They said, OK, we will let you know within 24 hours.
0:15:11 > 0:15:14But days went by and Anamul heard nothing.
0:15:14 > 0:15:17On the fourth day I checked my e-mail and I thought,
0:15:17 > 0:15:19the date's coming close and no response,
0:15:19 > 0:15:21and I actually realised it was a scam.
0:15:23 > 0:15:25It turned out the job was a fake.
0:15:25 > 0:15:29Anamul kicked himself that he'd fallen for the faker's tricks.
0:15:29 > 0:15:32I mean, I really want to swear but I'm not going to swear.
0:15:32 > 0:15:35But...I was thinking,
0:15:35 > 0:15:38OK, someone's actually scammed me.
0:15:38 > 0:15:40I felt little.
0:15:40 > 0:15:43What upset Anamul most was that he'd given his personal details
0:15:43 > 0:15:45to the fakers.
0:15:45 > 0:15:47The £50 is not really a big issue.
0:15:47 > 0:15:50But I've actually sent off my passport
0:15:50 > 0:15:53and my National Insurance card, and that's the big thing for me
0:15:53 > 0:15:56as those information can be used to do anything.
0:15:57 > 0:16:01Later on, we'll see exactly why Anamul was right to be so worried.
0:16:05 > 0:16:08But Anamul Haque wasn't the faker's only victim.
0:16:09 > 0:16:12And for job-seeker, Mahveen Raza from Leeds,
0:16:12 > 0:16:15it's a much more distressing experience.
0:16:15 > 0:16:20I was a student of Leeds Trinity University and I needed a job.
0:16:20 > 0:16:25Mahveen posted her CV on the website Gumtree and began applying for work.
0:16:25 > 0:16:27It was hard at first
0:16:27 > 0:16:30but eventually, one day, her luck seemed to have finally changed.
0:16:32 > 0:16:36I got an e-mail that, "we have seen your CV
0:16:36 > 0:16:40"and so we are appointing you, if you are interested, with that job."
0:16:40 > 0:16:44The e-mail told her she was being offered a sales position in Leeds
0:16:44 > 0:16:46with a wage of £10 an hour.
0:16:46 > 0:16:49It asked her to send over a completed application form together
0:16:49 > 0:16:51with her passport, utility bill
0:16:51 > 0:16:54and a £50 Ukash voucher for the criminal record check.
0:16:54 > 0:16:58I was very excited that, you know, I've got a good job
0:16:58 > 0:16:59and I was very happy.
0:16:59 > 0:17:02I've got kids and they were happy, "Oh, Mama, you've got a job."
0:17:02 > 0:17:05As well as asking for her personal information,
0:17:05 > 0:17:07the e-mail had an extra element.
0:17:07 > 0:17:12It invited her to a two-day induction and training event to be held
0:17:12 > 0:17:15at the Hilton hotel in Leeds city centre in two weeks' time.
0:17:17 > 0:17:19An excited Mahveen bought the £50 voucher,
0:17:19 > 0:17:23sent the required information and waited for the induction day to arrive.
0:17:24 > 0:17:27I was very happy in the morning.
0:17:27 > 0:17:31I woke up early because if you're excited you get up early.
0:17:31 > 0:17:35The kids went to school and they say, "Oh, Mama, good luck.
0:17:35 > 0:17:36"Wish you all the best."
0:17:36 > 0:17:40Mahveen's husband dropped her off near the hotel
0:17:40 > 0:17:42and told her he'd be back to pick her up at the end of the day.
0:17:45 > 0:17:48When she went to the reception, everything changed.
0:17:50 > 0:17:52They said, "There is nothing here.
0:17:52 > 0:17:55"There's no conference or nothing booked under this name."
0:17:55 > 0:17:58Then they said, "No, this company doesn't exist."
0:17:58 > 0:18:01They said it's a scam.
0:18:01 > 0:18:06There was no company, no induction and worst of all, no job.
0:18:06 > 0:18:08It was all an elaborate fake.
0:18:08 > 0:18:10Then I called my husband.
0:18:10 > 0:18:14I was very upset and I was like, literally, bursting into tears
0:18:14 > 0:18:17and I said, "Please, please come, I don't want to stay here."
0:18:20 > 0:18:21Sorry.
0:18:21 > 0:18:23Mahveen had no choice but to go home
0:18:23 > 0:18:26and start the job hunt all over again.
0:18:26 > 0:18:29I will never forgive them, no.
0:18:29 > 0:18:33I will never forgive them because, it's not a matter of money
0:18:33 > 0:18:36but it's a matter of emotion, what they did.
0:18:38 > 0:18:41Meanwhile, Yorkshire & the Humber Trading Standards' Scambuster Team
0:18:41 > 0:18:45had received dozens of complaints about the fake e-mail
0:18:45 > 0:18:47and had begun investigating.
0:18:48 > 0:18:50John Field led the enquiry.
0:18:50 > 0:18:53Around about 50 complaints had been received by Action Fraud
0:18:53 > 0:18:56and by Trading Standards from individuals
0:18:56 > 0:18:57who said they'd been misled.
0:18:57 > 0:19:01Then what we have to do is, like most of these complaints,
0:19:01 > 0:19:05is trace the money to see where the money supply has gone.
0:19:05 > 0:19:09The team traced the Ukash payments to three online bank accounts.
0:19:09 > 0:19:14Whoever had opened these accounts was clearly involved in the fakery.
0:19:14 > 0:19:17When they had the details of the three account holders,
0:19:17 > 0:19:21Trading Standards got a warrant to raid and search their homes.
0:19:21 > 0:19:24The idea of the execution of the warrant was initially to see
0:19:24 > 0:19:28if we could identify the three individuals whose names
0:19:28 > 0:19:32appeared on the accounts because we believe they perpetrated,
0:19:32 > 0:19:34committed, or could have committed a fraud.
0:19:35 > 0:19:38And one of the accounts was in the name of Anamul Haque.
0:19:43 > 0:19:47I heard a knock on the door and all I heard was, "Police, police."
0:19:49 > 0:19:51I came downstairs.
0:19:51 > 0:19:54Then I see there's a lot of police officers
0:19:54 > 0:19:56and actually started grabbing me.
0:19:56 > 0:19:58They arrested me.
0:19:58 > 0:20:00Before they were putting the handcuffs on me,
0:20:00 > 0:20:03they were telling me, this is the reason why we're arresting you
0:20:03 > 0:20:05because you have been scamming people.
0:20:05 > 0:20:07I was a bit baffled, what's going on?
0:20:07 > 0:20:10People coming into my house. I was like, I haven't done anything.
0:20:10 > 0:20:13Because his name was on one of the accounts
0:20:13 > 0:20:15used for receiving Ukash payments,
0:20:15 > 0:20:18Trading Standards believed Anamul was one of the fakers.
0:20:18 > 0:20:20Everyone's crying around me.
0:20:20 > 0:20:22My wife was crying around me, my mum was crying
0:20:22 > 0:20:24and everyone's panicking.
0:20:24 > 0:20:27At the back, there's just officers coming into the house.
0:20:27 > 0:20:29Because it was like a raid.
0:20:29 > 0:20:31They seized his phones and computer,
0:20:31 > 0:20:34and took him down to the police station for questioning.
0:20:34 > 0:20:37But when they asked about the £50 Ukash vouchers,
0:20:37 > 0:20:41the experience he'd had six months previously all came flooding back.
0:20:41 > 0:20:44It hit me and I was like, "Hold on, hold on, hold on!
0:20:44 > 0:20:48"Six months ago, I was actually a victim of a scam."
0:20:49 > 0:20:54Not only had the faker stolen £50 from Anamul for a fake CRB check
0:20:54 > 0:20:58for a fake job, they'd also used his personal details to set up
0:20:58 > 0:21:02an online bank account and used that to take payments from other victims.
0:21:03 > 0:21:06When Trading Standards looked into his computer they quickly found
0:21:06 > 0:21:08he was telling the truth.
0:21:08 > 0:21:11Because he'd supplied so many details, the fraudsters themselves
0:21:11 > 0:21:15had been able to set up an account in his name,
0:21:15 > 0:21:18which indicated he was the person committing the offence
0:21:18 > 0:21:20when in fact, he was an innocent victim.
0:21:20 > 0:21:23Anamul was released without charge.
0:21:23 > 0:21:27I'm very sorry about the upset that will have been caused to Mr Haque and to his family
0:21:27 > 0:21:31but there is absolutely no alternative in terms of our actions.
0:21:31 > 0:21:34It appeared that he was the perpetrator of the fraud.
0:21:34 > 0:21:38So who was this faker who'd stolen Anamul Haque's identity
0:21:38 > 0:21:42and used it to extract money from other victims?
0:21:42 > 0:21:44His name was Alexandru Hincu,
0:21:44 > 0:21:47and he lived in North London at one of the other addresses
0:21:47 > 0:21:51raided by Trading Standards and police that same morning.
0:21:51 > 0:21:53Hincu was arrested.
0:21:53 > 0:21:57Mr Hincu admitted to receiving over £3,000 in terms of payments.
0:21:57 > 0:22:01We're not sure whether that is the full scale of his operation
0:22:01 > 0:22:04because Ukash payments were also going to accounts that had been
0:22:04 > 0:22:08set up outside the United Kingdom that we were unable to trace.
0:22:09 > 0:22:11Hincu was making thousands from Ukash payments
0:22:11 > 0:22:15for fake criminal records checks for fake jobs.
0:22:15 > 0:22:17And he's not the only one.
0:22:17 > 0:22:21Action Fraud has reported several other examples of advanced fee scams
0:22:21 > 0:22:24targeting job-seekers.
0:22:24 > 0:22:26What the targets don't realise is that being asked
0:22:26 > 0:22:31for a criminal record check up front is clear indication of fakery.
0:22:31 > 0:22:34You will never be asked for a criminal record check for working
0:22:34 > 0:22:37in a call centre, working in a shop, customer service roles,
0:22:37 > 0:22:39travel and retail.
0:22:40 > 0:22:43Adrienne Kelbie is chief executive
0:22:43 > 0:22:45of the Disclosure and Barring Service,
0:22:45 > 0:22:48which administers the UK's criminal record checks.
0:22:48 > 0:22:50A criminal record check is required
0:22:50 > 0:22:53when people wish to work in jobs with the vulnerable,
0:22:53 > 0:22:57whether that's children, or elderly, or vulnerable adults.
0:22:57 > 0:23:00It has nothing whatsoever to do with checking out criminal records
0:23:00 > 0:23:02for people in general jobs.
0:23:02 > 0:23:06Job seekers who do require a genuine check will rarely pay for it
0:23:06 > 0:23:08themselves and never in advance.
0:23:08 > 0:23:11A reputable employer will only ask them for those checks
0:23:11 > 0:23:13post interview.
0:23:13 > 0:23:17They should never be asked to either pay up front or fill in a form
0:23:17 > 0:23:20before they've been offered a job after a thorough interview process.
0:23:22 > 0:23:25But for many of the targets, the effects go far beyond
0:23:25 > 0:23:29a fake criminal record check and the loss of 50 quid.
0:23:29 > 0:23:30These people are vulnerable.
0:23:30 > 0:23:33They pay money that is sometimes
0:23:33 > 0:23:35very difficult for them to get hold of.
0:23:35 > 0:23:39Then they attend for a job, delighted to have received a job,
0:23:39 > 0:23:41and the disappointment they must feel
0:23:41 > 0:23:43when they turn up for an induction to find they've been
0:23:43 > 0:23:46a victim of a scam, must be heartbreaking for them.
0:23:46 > 0:23:49And for a few people, the results are even more devastating.
0:23:49 > 0:23:52One of the victims had actually lost a contract job
0:23:52 > 0:23:56as a result of believing that he had full time employment.
0:23:56 > 0:24:00He'd told his contractor that he was unable to attend
0:24:00 > 0:24:03because he'd been given a full time job and they promptly sacked him.
0:24:03 > 0:24:06So what can you do if you're applying for jobs online
0:24:06 > 0:24:10and don't want to get caught out by the fakers?
0:24:10 > 0:24:14I'd urge people to be very careful in terms of supplying personal
0:24:14 > 0:24:17information on the internet, and to be very careful about sending
0:24:17 > 0:24:20money to individuals that they've had no contact with at all.
0:24:20 > 0:24:24It's probably very wise, if you're getting something that appears to be
0:24:24 > 0:24:28from a legitimate company, just to Google that company online
0:24:28 > 0:24:32and to try and contact them themselves before you send them any money.
0:24:32 > 0:24:36The faker, Alexandru Hincu, pleaded guilty at Leeds Crown Court
0:24:36 > 0:24:39and received a six month suspended prison sentence,
0:24:39 > 0:24:42and 180 hours community service.
0:24:42 > 0:24:45He was also ordered to pay compensation to his targets.
0:24:45 > 0:24:49Neither Hilton hotel nor Ukash had any knowledge of,
0:24:49 > 0:24:50or involvement in, the crime.
0:24:52 > 0:24:55Anamul now has a job working as a photographer
0:24:55 > 0:24:57but he's still angry about what happened.
0:24:57 > 0:25:00I didn't get the job, my £50 went,
0:25:00 > 0:25:02my personal information is out there.
0:25:02 > 0:25:05I got arrested, I got dragged down to the police station.
0:25:05 > 0:25:08It's upsetting to me. It was upsetting.
0:25:09 > 0:25:13And Mahveen is now employed at Manchester Airport.
0:25:13 > 0:25:15But she's still upset by the whole experience.
0:25:15 > 0:25:17They played with my emotion.
0:25:17 > 0:25:20Not even with my money, but with my emotion as well.
0:25:20 > 0:25:23They played with my family's emotion as well
0:25:23 > 0:25:25and I will never forgive them for that.
0:25:30 > 0:25:34One of the most callous types of fakery we've seen
0:25:34 > 0:25:37here on Fake Britain is when the criminals get involved with
0:25:37 > 0:25:42products for children and we have yet another example right here.
0:25:42 > 0:25:47This happy little reptile is called a Twilight Turtle, but
0:25:47 > 0:25:52while this is the real deal, all his little friends here are turtle fakes.
0:25:52 > 0:25:56Far from being a fun, comforting and educational night
0:25:56 > 0:26:00light for a child, they are in fact potentially dangerous.
0:26:03 > 0:26:07A Twilight Turtle is a soft toy and night light rolled in to one.
0:26:07 > 0:26:10It's made by American manufacturer Cloud B.
0:26:10 > 0:26:13The name and the shape of the toy are protected by trademark.
0:26:16 > 0:26:20Jeff Weller is a lawyer who fights the fakers on behalf of the company.
0:26:20 > 0:26:24Twilight Turtle is a night light designed to help young
0:26:24 > 0:26:27children, of any age really, sleep.
0:26:27 > 0:26:31As well as being soothing, the turtle is also educational.
0:26:31 > 0:26:34The design represents real constellations,
0:26:34 > 0:26:37so parents can teach their children about the night sky.
0:26:37 > 0:26:41The various constellations are set out on the shell, so that when the
0:26:41 > 0:26:45LEDs shine through, they project on to the ceiling and around the room.
0:26:45 > 0:26:48A real Twilight Turtle will set you back about £30.
0:26:49 > 0:26:53But you can buy an imposter online at a lower price.
0:26:53 > 0:26:58And like any imposter, these phoney turtles are not to be trusted.
0:27:00 > 0:27:03As Karen Surette found out when she went to buy presents
0:27:03 > 0:27:06for her great niece and nephew's birthdays.
0:27:06 > 0:27:11One is one in November and the other is one in December.
0:27:11 > 0:27:15So I was looking for something special, something different, that
0:27:15 > 0:27:20could have been a combined Christmas and birthday present for them.
0:27:20 > 0:27:24Karen searched online for gift ideas and discovered the Twilight Turtles.
0:27:24 > 0:27:28When I saw the turtles, they just seemed so loveable.
0:27:28 > 0:27:31I could just imagine a child wanting it at the side of the bed
0:27:31 > 0:27:33every night.
0:27:33 > 0:27:37Just looking at those lights and just peacefully going off to sleep.
0:27:37 > 0:27:41Karen bought two turtles online, costing £19.99 each.
0:27:42 > 0:27:45They arrived in the post two days before the birthday party.
0:27:45 > 0:27:48I opened the wrapping and the boxes were destroyed.
0:27:48 > 0:27:54The boxes were smashed. And they didn't look very professional.
0:27:55 > 0:27:58What was inside was even worse.
0:27:58 > 0:28:01Immediately, out pops a plug.
0:28:01 > 0:28:05Doesn't actually have any English writing on it at all.
0:28:05 > 0:28:09There's no safety standards on it and it's all in Chinese.
0:28:09 > 0:28:12Before we take the turtle out, there is
0:28:12 > 0:28:16a screwdriver that we just randomly find in the box.
0:28:16 > 0:28:18Pretty lethal for a child.
0:28:18 > 0:28:22I dread to think that if I'd have given these toys to my niece and
0:28:22 > 0:28:25nephew to open themselves what would have happened with that screwdriver.
0:28:25 > 0:28:28The injury they could have given themselves.
0:28:28 > 0:28:30And then the turtle, which is not very well made
0:28:30 > 0:28:34and this plastic is very sharp on the edges.
0:28:34 > 0:28:40The buttons are very wobbly. The fabric is coming away underneath.
0:28:40 > 0:28:43And it's very cheaply glued.
0:28:43 > 0:28:45So, not happy at all.
0:28:45 > 0:28:47The turtles were fake.
0:28:47 > 0:28:50There was no way Karen could give them to the children.
0:28:50 > 0:28:56I could have cried because I was so excited to get the turtles.
0:28:56 > 0:29:01When I realised we had bought fakes, it was anger and sadness.
0:29:01 > 0:29:03Yeah.
0:29:03 > 0:29:05In his pursuit of the fakers,
0:29:05 > 0:29:09trademark attorney Jeff Weller has amassed an army of fake
0:29:09 > 0:29:12turtles that's like an invasive species,
0:29:12 > 0:29:15threatening the survival of the originals. Ooh!
0:29:15 > 0:29:19So this is a small selection of counterfeit turtles that we've
0:29:19 > 0:29:22obtained through test purchases and as you can see,
0:29:22 > 0:29:26on first inspection, they all look quite similar.
0:29:26 > 0:29:30So here we have one original turtle and that's this one.
0:29:30 > 0:29:35And the key thing you can see is that this has the Cloud B logo,
0:29:35 > 0:29:39on the bottom of the shell at the back, whereas the other
0:29:39 > 0:29:42counterfeit turtles don't have that on their shell.
0:29:42 > 0:29:47At first glance, the fake turtles seem to be quite convincing copies.
0:29:47 > 0:29:50It's when you look closer that the cracks begin to appear.
0:29:50 > 0:29:53On this fake, this came in the box like this.
0:29:53 > 0:29:54With the crack through the shell.
0:29:54 > 0:29:58Which certainly would stop it working well,
0:29:58 > 0:30:02as well as being a danger with the snapped plastic.
0:30:02 > 0:30:05Additionally, the quality of the turtle underneath
0:30:05 > 0:30:09the shell in the fakes is variable, to say the least.
0:30:09 > 0:30:12This came in the box with the fluff already falling out.
0:30:12 > 0:30:15And if you try to teach your children about the night sky using
0:30:15 > 0:30:18a fake turtle, they could end up rather confused.
0:30:18 > 0:30:22On the original, you have the constellations here,
0:30:22 > 0:30:25with the crescent moon on my right.
0:30:25 > 0:30:29And on the fakes, the constellations are the wrong way round.
0:30:29 > 0:30:31The crescent's on the other side.
0:30:31 > 0:30:34This kind of highlights part of the problem that is facing
0:30:34 > 0:30:38the Twilight Turtle, in that it's a high quality original here
0:30:38 > 0:30:42being swamped by a growing army of counterfeits.
0:30:42 > 0:30:46The poor quality of the fakes can also be seen when you turn them on.
0:30:48 > 0:30:51If we take the original away,
0:30:51 > 0:30:56see, that's the constellation with the crescent moon on the left.
0:30:58 > 0:31:00The original there.
0:31:02 > 0:31:04And then take the counterfeit away,
0:31:04 > 0:31:09you see a much clearer star pattern, much more detailed.
0:31:09 > 0:31:11The crescent moon's up on the right.
0:31:11 > 0:31:16And also very clearly different impact as a lamp in the room.
0:31:16 > 0:31:19If you shell out for a fake, you're clearly getting ripped off,
0:31:19 > 0:31:22but that's not the worst thing that could happen.
0:31:22 > 0:31:25There could be a risk that the electrics would go wrong,
0:31:25 > 0:31:27maybe resulting in fire.
0:31:27 > 0:31:30We don't know what would happen if a child chewed, swallowed,
0:31:30 > 0:31:33played too vigorously with this toy, whether it would break,
0:31:33 > 0:31:36we don't know what the chemicals, the materials,
0:31:36 > 0:31:38what effects they would have because we just don't know
0:31:38 > 0:31:43the quality or the standards these have been produced to, if any.
0:31:43 > 0:31:47To find out how unsafe the fake turtles really are,
0:31:47 > 0:31:52we took a couple to toy testing specialist Dr David Elks at Intertek.
0:31:52 > 0:31:56So, we've got two turtles here, one is real, one is fake.
0:31:56 > 0:31:59Just a quick look shows we've got labels, we've got
0:31:59 > 0:32:03a manufacturer, we've got CE mark, we've got some instructions
0:32:03 > 0:32:08and here we've got no labels, no markings
0:32:08 > 0:32:11and we can see stuffing, so under the toy safety directive,
0:32:11 > 0:32:13this would be a straight fail
0:32:13 > 0:32:17because we've got a choking hazard potential from the stuffing.
0:32:17 > 0:32:21Next, Dr Elks tests the durability of the toy,
0:32:21 > 0:32:25using a seven kilogram weight to mimic children's rough play.
0:32:25 > 0:32:28Ready?
0:32:28 > 0:32:30RIPPING SOUND
0:32:30 > 0:32:32Or not.
0:32:32 > 0:32:34That is not what is supposed to happen!
0:32:36 > 0:32:40We've torn the whole side of the toy, which again,
0:32:40 > 0:32:42where we've got stuffing exposed at the base,
0:32:42 > 0:32:45we've now got it all round the sides as well.
0:32:47 > 0:32:51When the genuine turtle is put through the same test,
0:32:51 > 0:32:52it passes with flying colours.
0:32:52 > 0:32:55There you go.
0:32:55 > 0:32:57No ill effect.
0:32:57 > 0:33:01The fake turtle has already failed to meet toy safety standards
0:33:01 > 0:33:03and shouldn't be allowed on sale.
0:33:04 > 0:33:07But Fake Britain wanted to see what might happen
0:33:07 > 0:33:11if a fault with the turtle's wiring were to cause a spark.
0:33:11 > 0:33:16Electrics testing expert Ray Jeffries does a very simple test to see
0:33:16 > 0:33:19what might happen if the toy were to catch fire.
0:33:19 > 0:33:23Plastic used to make children's toys should be fire retardant.
0:33:23 > 0:33:27This plastic material should self-extinguish in 30 seconds.
0:33:30 > 0:33:35We've got flaming droplets coming off. It's just burning.
0:33:35 > 0:33:39There's no flame retardant in the plastic whatsoever.
0:33:39 > 0:33:43There's no doubt in my mind that a fault on the electronics,
0:33:43 > 0:33:47in certain circumstances, the product could actually catch fire
0:33:47 > 0:33:52and cause a very serious fire and I should imagine as well toxic fumes.
0:33:52 > 0:33:55The fake turtle has well and truly failed the safety tests.
0:33:58 > 0:34:00It's not just turtles.
0:34:00 > 0:34:04Another product, the Twilight Ladybug, is also being faked.
0:34:04 > 0:34:08And the fakes are a major cause of concern for the manufacturer.
0:34:08 > 0:34:10We feel that 25 to 50% of the market
0:34:10 > 0:34:13out there could be counterfeit products.
0:34:13 > 0:34:17Sometimes we're dealing with EBay or Amazon sellers who may be
0:34:17 > 0:34:22selling themselves tens to hundreds or it may even be in the thousands.
0:34:22 > 0:34:24So the numbers are very high.
0:34:24 > 0:34:27But if you don't want to get caught out when buying online,
0:34:27 > 0:34:28what can you do?
0:34:28 > 0:34:32Watch out for big price differences between the turtle you're
0:34:32 > 0:34:34seeing for sale and the price that we sell this for.
0:34:34 > 0:34:38That should be an indicator this possibly isn't an original
0:34:38 > 0:34:40being sold.
0:34:40 > 0:34:42Karen's experience has left her disappointed
0:34:42 > 0:34:45and wary of buying anything on the internet.
0:34:45 > 0:34:50It's very sad that there are people out there selling these products
0:34:50 > 0:34:54to unsuspecting members of the public with no regard to safety.
0:34:54 > 0:34:57Items that could harm their child.
0:35:03 > 0:35:05Martial arts are booming in Britain,
0:35:05 > 0:35:10with thousands of people keen to learn new skills or just keep fit.
0:35:10 > 0:35:12Of course, the first thing most people do
0:35:12 > 0:35:17when they have a new passion is buy all the kit and it can be expensive.
0:35:17 > 0:35:19This is Thai boxing equipment.
0:35:19 > 0:35:23It's supposed to protect people in a very physical sport.
0:35:23 > 0:35:26The problem is it's all fake. The fakers, of course,
0:35:26 > 0:35:30are a lot more interested in making money than keeping us safe.
0:35:34 > 0:35:38This is Muay Thai, or Thai boxing. Flippin 'eck.
0:35:38 > 0:35:41You wouldn't want to mess with these guys, would you?
0:35:42 > 0:35:46Some very unwise fakers are doing that by selling fake Thai
0:35:46 > 0:35:48boxing equipment.
0:35:50 > 0:35:52Today, more and more of us
0:35:52 > 0:35:55are recognising the importance of a healthy and active lifestyle
0:35:55 > 0:35:58and thanks to our new focus on fitness,
0:35:58 > 0:36:00martial arts like Thai boxing have taken off.
0:36:02 > 0:36:06There are now more than 400 gyms in the UK offering Thai boxing
0:36:06 > 0:36:07classes at all levels,
0:36:07 > 0:36:10from fitness fans who enjoy the exercise to high level
0:36:10 > 0:36:15amateurs who relish the challenge of going a few rounds in the ring.
0:36:15 > 0:36:20Paul Hamilton's the president of the UK Muay Thai Federation.
0:36:20 > 0:36:23Thai boxing is dramatic,
0:36:23 > 0:36:28it's exciting, you've got hands, legs, knees, elbows,
0:36:28 > 0:36:32so you've got a game of chess with a lot of action.
0:36:32 > 0:36:35Many of those who take part in Thai boxing classes do so just
0:36:35 > 0:36:40for the exercise and have never come face to face with an opponent.
0:36:40 > 0:36:42But for those who do progress into the ring,
0:36:42 > 0:36:47like this intermediate class, injury's a very real possibility.
0:36:47 > 0:36:51You can get a broken jaw, you can get a broken leg.
0:36:51 > 0:36:54It's part of the game.
0:36:55 > 0:36:58To protect themselves and each other from harm,
0:36:58 > 0:37:01participants use a variety of protective gear.
0:37:01 > 0:37:04Two of the most popular brands are Fairtex and Twins.
0:37:06 > 0:37:10At Stars Thai Boxing Gym in London's Battersea, head coach
0:37:10 > 0:37:13Matty Parks keeps a selection of equipment for novice fighters.
0:37:13 > 0:37:16We have 16 ounce gloves. They might look a bit old,
0:37:16 > 0:37:18but they're still very firm at the front. So there's
0:37:18 > 0:37:21no chance of people's knuckle coming through in the padding.
0:37:21 > 0:37:23Shin protection, they're very firm at the front,
0:37:23 > 0:37:25so there's not going to be so much trauma to the leg
0:37:25 > 0:37:28if you happen to take quite a strong leg kick.
0:37:28 > 0:37:29Full face head guard here.
0:37:29 > 0:37:33This area here stops pretty much any kind of bruising around the face.
0:37:35 > 0:37:38But of course the fakers don't worry about health and safety
0:37:38 > 0:37:42and with Muay Thai one of the fastest growing sports in the UK,
0:37:42 > 0:37:46they've been quick to spot an opportunity.
0:37:46 > 0:37:49A pair of genuine boxing gloves costs from around £80,
0:37:49 > 0:37:54but you can buy a fake pair online from around 40.
0:37:54 > 0:37:58Fakes... Fakes, fakes, I see quite a bit of it.
0:37:58 > 0:38:02Yeah, especially from people that are getting into it first time.
0:38:02 > 0:38:06Luckily, for one faker, when justice finally caught up with him,
0:38:06 > 0:38:09it wasn't one of these guys,
0:38:09 > 0:38:13but the very gentle Tim Keohane from Caerphilly Trading Standards.
0:38:13 > 0:38:16We were contacted by the brand holder
0:38:16 > 0:38:22and they'd seen a business in our area advertising their equipment.
0:38:22 > 0:38:25And it was quite clear to them, just from looking at the images,
0:38:25 > 0:38:26that it was counterfeit.
0:38:26 > 0:38:29So we were able to get a warrant from the magistrates
0:38:29 > 0:38:31and raid the premises.
0:38:31 > 0:38:35Trading Standards see 64 fake Fairtex and Twins punchbags,
0:38:35 > 0:38:38as well as boxing gloves and head guards.
0:38:38 > 0:38:40The total value was over £7,000.
0:38:40 > 0:38:43Here we are in our secure storage facility where we keep all
0:38:43 > 0:38:46the fakes that we've seized over the years.
0:38:46 > 0:38:49We've got everything you could think of here, electrical goods,
0:38:49 > 0:38:54tobacco, of course clothing, makeup, footwear...
0:38:54 > 0:38:56You name it, we've got it.
0:38:56 > 0:39:00You can see the punchbags, just over 60 of them,
0:39:00 > 0:39:02they go back into the store there.
0:39:02 > 0:39:06As well as a selection of some of the gloves and the head guards.
0:39:06 > 0:39:09Unsurprisingly, Fairtex and Twins weren't too happy
0:39:09 > 0:39:11about their products being faked.
0:39:11 > 0:39:15The sale of counterfeits affects businesses in two ways, really.
0:39:15 > 0:39:19Obviously, it's taking money out of their pockets
0:39:19 > 0:39:21because they're not selling their goods
0:39:21 > 0:39:25because the fakes are being sold and also there's a reputational damage.
0:39:25 > 0:39:27These goods are inferior in quality.
0:39:27 > 0:39:29If they fall apart after a few uses,
0:39:29 > 0:39:32obviously it affects the good name of the product.
0:39:34 > 0:39:37But the fakes have another far more serious effect.
0:39:39 > 0:39:42If you're wearing fake shin pads and you kick someone,
0:39:42 > 0:39:44you could break your tibia so easy.
0:39:44 > 0:39:46If I punch you and I've got insufficient
0:39:46 > 0:39:49padding on my hands, I could do serious trauma to your face.
0:39:49 > 0:39:53If you wear a fake head guard, what price do you put on your brain?
0:39:53 > 0:39:56It could be rib injuries, it could be knee injuries,
0:39:56 > 0:39:59ankle injuries, foot injuries.
0:39:59 > 0:40:02It's happened numerous times with people who wear fakes.
0:40:02 > 0:40:06Paul has seen first hand the damage that fake equipment can do.
0:40:06 > 0:40:09One of my guys came in with a fake pair of gloves on.
0:40:09 > 0:40:13I told him they were fake. Didn't basically listen.
0:40:13 > 0:40:16Went on the pads with another guy, threw a left hook.
0:40:16 > 0:40:21The next thing, he screamed. Took his glove off, broke his wrist.
0:40:21 > 0:40:25We took the fake equipment seized by Trading Standards to be
0:40:25 > 0:40:28assessed by experts Paul and Matty.
0:40:28 > 0:40:30Can you tell the difference between the fakes, how you can
0:40:30 > 0:40:33press your fingers in and feel your fingers on the other side?
0:40:33 > 0:40:36Yeah, you can squeeze through the padding quite easily.
0:40:36 > 0:40:39Punching someone, your knuckles would come right
0:40:39 > 0:40:41- through on that shot. - Yeah.- Cause someone damage.
0:40:41 > 0:40:44Six weeks of proper training on proper bags are going
0:40:44 > 0:40:45to break that padding.
0:40:45 > 0:40:48He's going to jump in the ring and instantly break someone's nose
0:40:48 > 0:40:53and if you look at the real ones, you can feel that padding is going to last a lot longer.
0:40:53 > 0:40:55These have been specially built to punch people in the face,
0:40:55 > 0:40:59whereas these have been specially built to rip people off.
0:40:59 > 0:41:00100%.
0:41:00 > 0:41:04The lack of proper padding is just as obvious in the fake head guard.
0:41:04 > 0:41:09One of the most important things in a Thai boxing gym, if you're a bit of a novice.
0:41:09 > 0:41:12If you just even point them at the camera, it's just like...
0:41:12 > 0:41:17- You can see...- See the difference. - Massive difference between the two different items.
0:41:17 > 0:41:20But it's the padding. It's just non-existent, really.
0:41:20 > 0:41:23And this is what's supposed to be protecting your face and your head.
0:41:23 > 0:41:27You might as well put a plaster on your head with this. I mean...
0:41:27 > 0:41:31- If I press that in there, the actual indent stays in, look.- Yeah.
0:41:31 > 0:41:35In short words, this head guard, it is what it is - it's rubbish.
0:41:35 > 0:41:38The fake punchbags are just as bad.
0:41:38 > 0:41:42- You don't need to be a brain surgeon to work out that's fake.- Fake.
0:41:42 > 0:41:44Er...
0:41:44 > 0:41:46If I bought that for my gym, I think it'd last about a week
0:41:46 > 0:41:50and the lads would have a hole in it. The stitching's actually sharp.
0:41:50 > 0:41:55- That stitching there is actually... - Yeah, it's going to cut your shins when you kick it.- Yeah.
0:41:55 > 0:41:58And then inside, let's see what surprises we've got.
0:41:58 > 0:42:01What's that?! Someone's knickers?!
0:42:01 > 0:42:04Yeah. I think they went out of fashion a while ago.
0:42:04 > 0:42:07What the hell is...?
0:42:07 > 0:42:10OK. It's ladies' underwear. Lots of ladies' underwear.
0:42:10 > 0:42:13If you're ever not sure if you bought a fake bag,
0:42:13 > 0:42:15have a look in the top.
0:42:15 > 0:42:18If I go down too deep, I might find someone.
0:42:20 > 0:42:22Unlike the fake bags,
0:42:22 > 0:42:27a professional punchbag is tightly packed with finely shredded cotton.
0:42:27 > 0:42:30- It's ridiculous.- It's just cheap.
0:42:30 > 0:42:33I mean, if you're paying nearly to the value of what a real one is,
0:42:33 > 0:42:36you're definitely getting ripped off.
0:42:36 > 0:42:39Paul Hamilton is angry that the fakers are taking
0:42:39 > 0:42:43advantage of Thai boxing's rising popularity.
0:42:43 > 0:42:45The people that are copying the stuff don't care
0:42:45 > 0:42:47about the people that are wearing them.
0:42:47 > 0:42:50They don't care about the sport.
0:42:50 > 0:42:53They don't care about the health of someone.
0:42:53 > 0:42:56They just care about how much money they're making.
0:42:56 > 0:42:59And the message for the fakers is clear - for goodness' sake,
0:42:59 > 0:43:02you're messing with the wrong people.
0:43:08 > 0:43:12That's all from Fake Britain. Goodbye.