0:00:02 > 0:00:06Welcome to a world where nothing is quite as it seems.
0:00:06 > 0:00:07Welcome to Fake Britain.
0:00:09 > 0:00:10Police!
0:00:20 > 0:00:24- Get down! Get down on the floor now! - Put your hands behind your back now.
0:00:24 > 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 > 0:00:36We'll investigate the fraudsters who are selling us
0:00:36 > 0:00:40something that isn't real and could be dangerous.
0:00:40 > 0:00:44And we'll help you avoid falling for a fake.
0:00:44 > 0:00:46Today on Fake Britain -
0:00:46 > 0:00:49the tradesmen faking logos to rip off homeowners.
0:00:50 > 0:00:54My father-in-law was actually showered by all of the foam
0:00:54 > 0:00:56that had just been left in the loft space.
0:00:56 > 0:00:59Tiles were loose, and if there was any high wind all of those
0:00:59 > 0:01:01would have been ripped off the roof.
0:01:01 > 0:01:04The fake edible glitter that you wouldn't want to eat.
0:01:04 > 0:01:05It shocks you to think,
0:01:05 > 0:01:09I've put this product on this cake that kids are going to be eating.
0:01:09 > 0:01:12The fake bailiffs threatening small businesses.
0:01:13 > 0:01:18I couldn't believe somebody could scam me out of just under £4,000.
0:01:18 > 0:01:21And the fake breathalysers that could cost you your licence
0:01:21 > 0:01:23or even your life.
0:01:23 > 0:01:25This is telling me I'm alcohol free.
0:01:25 > 0:01:28Anybody who relies on this is really playing with fire.
0:01:34 > 0:01:39There are around 100,000 county court judgements for debt
0:01:39 > 0:01:42issued against British companies every year.
0:01:42 > 0:01:45Some of these result in a visit by bailiffs or enforcement agents
0:01:45 > 0:01:47to recover the debt.
0:01:47 > 0:01:50So, if you get a call from someone who sounds official saying
0:01:50 > 0:01:54the business you work at, or even own, owes money
0:01:54 > 0:01:58you're going to sit up and take notice. It's a serious matter.
0:01:58 > 0:02:01But what if that phone call isn't everything it seems?
0:02:05 > 0:02:09This is Little Bunnies nursery in King's Lynn, Norfolk.
0:02:10 > 0:02:14Just after starting her shift, manager Becky received a phone call.
0:02:14 > 0:02:17Good morning, Little Bunnies.
0:02:17 > 0:02:20The man on the phone said he was from a firm of bailiffs
0:02:20 > 0:02:22and that the bailiffs were on their way to seize
0:02:22 > 0:02:25goods from the nursery to settle an unpaid debt.
0:02:25 > 0:02:28I was actually quite nervous when they phoned.
0:02:28 > 0:02:31They were very aggressive in the way that they were talking,
0:02:31 > 0:02:35very convincing that they were actual real bailiffs
0:02:35 > 0:02:38that just wanted to come and take all the equipment from the nursery.
0:02:38 > 0:02:42Becky was confused about the so-called debt owed by the business.
0:02:42 > 0:02:45More than that, she was worried about the impact on the dozen or so
0:02:45 > 0:02:48children currently in the nursery.
0:02:48 > 0:02:49So, she acted quickly.
0:02:51 > 0:02:54As soon as I hung up the phone I followed our security procedures.
0:02:54 > 0:02:57I got all the children from the front of the nursery into the back where it's quite secure.
0:02:57 > 0:03:01I stood at the front of the building with the telephone ready in case they were going to come.
0:03:01 > 0:03:06Becky then phoned her boss, the nursery's owner, Donna Jarvis.
0:03:06 > 0:03:09When Donna arrived she immediately phoned the man, who was calling
0:03:09 > 0:03:14himself a bailiff, to query the debt of which she had no knowledge.
0:03:14 > 0:03:19The man told her she owed £550 to an IT company for work on software
0:03:19 > 0:03:21plus a £250 bailiff fee.
0:03:22 > 0:03:27She insisted she knew nothing about the debt but he refused to listen.
0:03:27 > 0:03:29He says, "Sorry, love, we hear this all the time."
0:03:29 > 0:03:32He had the paperwork rustling in the background.
0:03:32 > 0:03:34He had a case reference number.
0:03:34 > 0:03:36My words to him actually were,
0:03:36 > 0:03:39"There's women and children in my nursery, a lot of children."
0:03:39 > 0:03:42His actual words were, "I don't care how many kids are in the building,
0:03:42 > 0:03:44"we're coming through the door."
0:03:44 > 0:03:47At that point I said, "Ridiculous, I'm phoning the police."
0:03:47 > 0:03:50He informed me, "No need, we'll be turning up with the police."
0:03:50 > 0:03:53The man told Donna the only way to stop the bailiffs
0:03:53 > 0:03:55would be to settle the debt.
0:03:55 > 0:03:59He gave her an 0845 number to call in order to pay up.
0:04:00 > 0:04:02The chap answered,
0:04:02 > 0:04:05"Hello, Northampton County Court. This is the payment line."
0:04:05 > 0:04:08I instantly went in very passionately and angrily saying,
0:04:08 > 0:04:11"I've just had bailiffs on the phone stating that I've got this debt."
0:04:11 > 0:04:15"Excuse me, madam, I need to stop you. Please can I take your reference number."
0:04:15 > 0:04:18Pretended to type it into a computer, you could hear the keys.
0:04:18 > 0:04:21"Yep, Little Bunnies Day Nursery. You owe this amount of money."
0:04:21 > 0:04:24He repeated the same dates off when it went to court.
0:04:24 > 0:04:28He was so good. He had an answer for every single thing I threw at him.
0:04:30 > 0:04:33Little Bunnies nursery wasn't the only business to receive
0:04:33 > 0:04:36a phone call from men demanding money.
0:04:36 > 0:04:40Jenny Tofts' hair salon in Cambridgeshire had a similar call
0:04:40 > 0:04:44out of the blue from someone claiming to work on behalf of the courts.
0:04:44 > 0:04:47He said he was calling from Croydon County Court
0:04:47 > 0:04:50and he was dealing with the judgment that had been made
0:04:50 > 0:04:53against my business, as I'd not turned up to the court case.
0:04:53 > 0:04:57I then obviously said, "What court case? I know nothing about this."
0:04:57 > 0:05:00I'm like, "God, I've never had anything like that in my life."
0:05:00 > 0:05:02I couldn't believe it.
0:05:02 > 0:05:06She had no idea what they were talking about.
0:05:06 > 0:05:09The man claimed Jenny owed nearly £2,000 in court fees
0:05:09 > 0:05:13and an unpaid debt for online advertising.
0:05:13 > 0:05:15They threatened that the bailiffs would arrive shortly
0:05:15 > 0:05:17unless she paid the debt.
0:05:17 > 0:05:19I questioned it and said,
0:05:19 > 0:05:21"Surely I don't have to make that payment now?"
0:05:21 > 0:05:24He said, "Yes, I'm afraid you do because the judge's ruled,
0:05:24 > 0:05:27"you now have a county court judgment against your business
0:05:27 > 0:05:30"and if you don't make that payment, they will come to your salon
0:05:30 > 0:05:32"and they will take goods to that value."
0:05:32 > 0:05:36What Jenny didn't know was if she'd had a real debt,
0:05:36 > 0:05:39real bailiffs would have needed to give her seven days' written warning
0:05:39 > 0:05:43before being able to take any enforcement action.
0:05:44 > 0:05:48By now, Jenny was seriously worried about her business.
0:05:48 > 0:05:51I didn't want someone coming in here with a salon full of clients,
0:05:51 > 0:05:54and I panicked because I thought, "What's that going to do
0:05:54 > 0:05:57"to my business, my reputation and everything else?"
0:05:59 > 0:06:01In King's Lynn, nursery owner, Donna,
0:06:01 > 0:06:04was also feeling the pressure as she spoke to a man who said
0:06:04 > 0:06:08he was a clerk on the Northampton Court payment line.
0:06:08 > 0:06:09I was almost convinced,
0:06:09 > 0:06:12I was almost convinced and I almost paid the debt.
0:06:12 > 0:06:15But Donna decided, finally, to pass the phone to her partner
0:06:15 > 0:06:18who had happened to be an ex-police officer,
0:06:18 > 0:06:21a fact that Donna made clear to the man on the phone.
0:06:21 > 0:06:25And it was only at that point that the young lad slipped with his nice,
0:06:25 > 0:06:29polite, "I'm a county court...county clerk" on the payment line.
0:06:29 > 0:06:31He went, "Oh, great."
0:06:31 > 0:06:33And then the line went dead.
0:06:33 > 0:06:37And then I re-phoned the 0845 number to get a mobile answer machine.
0:06:37 > 0:06:39And then I realised it was definitely a con.
0:06:41 > 0:06:44Donna had a lucky escape. She didn't pay the fake bailiff.
0:06:44 > 0:06:47But in Cambridgeshire, salon owner, Jenny,
0:06:47 > 0:06:51had been feeling the pressure and the man who said the bailiffs were coming
0:06:51 > 0:06:53to get their money and disrupt her business
0:06:53 > 0:06:56was doing everything to prove he was genuine.
0:06:56 > 0:07:01He got me to go online to these websites and type in reference numbers
0:07:01 > 0:07:06that he gave me, which then brought up all their information.
0:07:06 > 0:07:08I suppose I ended up believing what he was saying
0:07:08 > 0:07:12because he had an answer, almost, for everything, really.
0:07:13 > 0:07:16Thinking that she must somehow be in the wrong
0:07:16 > 0:07:20and fearing the disruption to her business, Jenny finally caved in.
0:07:20 > 0:07:24She paid nearly £2,000 into an account number given to her
0:07:24 > 0:07:26by the man on the phone.
0:07:26 > 0:07:29But later he phoned back claiming the money hadn't gone through and
0:07:29 > 0:07:33threatened the bailiffs again if she didn't make the payment once more.
0:07:33 > 0:07:35I panicked again
0:07:35 > 0:07:37and made that second payment.
0:07:37 > 0:07:40When Jenny checked with her bank,
0:07:40 > 0:07:43she was told both payments had in fact gone through.
0:07:43 > 0:07:46She'd lost thousands of pounds to fake bailiffs.
0:07:46 > 0:07:49I couldn't believe that somebody could...
0:07:50 > 0:07:54..scam me from just under £4,000 of may salon's money
0:07:54 > 0:07:57in the space of an afternoon.
0:07:58 > 0:08:02It's a huge sum of money for a business like Jenny's to lose.
0:08:02 > 0:08:06I'd got wages to pay, I'd got tax bills to pay.
0:08:06 > 0:08:10You go home every night feeling sick to your stomach
0:08:10 > 0:08:14and worrying about how you're going to pay for everything, and how
0:08:14 > 0:08:17your business is going to survive now this has happened to you.
0:08:19 > 0:08:20Jenny phoned Action Fraud,
0:08:20 > 0:08:24the UK's national fraud and internet crime reporting centre.
0:08:24 > 0:08:28They referred her case on to the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau,
0:08:28 > 0:08:30a specialised unit within City of London Police
0:08:30 > 0:08:33that's been set up to tackle fraud.
0:08:33 > 0:08:36Chief Inspector Matt Bradford if the head of the unit
0:08:36 > 0:08:40and he's identified a trend where fake bailiffs are cynically
0:08:40 > 0:08:42targeting particular types of business.
0:08:43 > 0:08:46Fraudsters seem to be targeting those softer
0:08:46 > 0:08:48and more vulnerable targets.
0:08:48 > 0:08:51We've had nurseries, schools, doctors, plumbers, you name it.
0:08:51 > 0:08:53Anyone can be vulnerable to this.
0:08:55 > 0:08:58And while Jenny lost around £4,000, other victims of the fake bailiffs
0:08:58 > 0:09:02might consider her to be one of the lucky ones.
0:09:02 > 0:09:04In one instance, lost nearly £20,000.
0:09:04 > 0:09:06That's a huge amount of money
0:09:06 > 0:09:08especially if we're talking about small businesses.
0:09:08 > 0:09:12That's a lot of turnover, a lot of hard work and it's just lost.
0:09:13 > 0:09:16Far from the being an isolated crime, there have been many cases
0:09:16 > 0:09:20of fake bailiff fraud, and the problem seems to be getting worse.
0:09:20 > 0:09:23The National Fraud Intelligence Bureau have done some research
0:09:23 > 0:09:25and analysis, and we've shown from less than ten,
0:09:25 > 0:09:28they've increased to nearly 25.
0:09:28 > 0:09:30That's 25 reports per month.
0:09:30 > 0:09:33Extrapolate that over a year and each one of those could have
0:09:33 > 0:09:38losses of hundreds, thousands or even multiple of tens of thousands.
0:09:38 > 0:09:41That's a lot of money that's going into organised crime,
0:09:41 > 0:09:43it's going into the pockets of fraudsters.
0:09:45 > 0:09:48After two months of painstaking negotiations with her bank,
0:09:48 > 0:09:50Jenny finally got her money back.
0:09:51 > 0:09:55She's still coming to terms with just how sophisticated the fakers were.
0:09:55 > 0:09:59I was amazed at the length this faker went to,
0:09:59 > 0:10:01to get the information that he did.
0:10:01 > 0:10:04Not only did he have information about me,
0:10:04 > 0:10:09he'd researched my business to make it believable, to make me believe.
0:10:09 > 0:10:11Whilst Donna had a narrow miss with the fakers,
0:10:11 > 0:10:14their actions have left her seething.
0:10:15 > 0:10:20It makes me extremely angry that somebody gets up in the morning,
0:10:20 > 0:10:23looks in the mirror and decides they're going to spend
0:10:23 > 0:10:27their working day threatening children and women.
0:10:27 > 0:10:31And the fact these fake bailiffs are out there taking this money
0:10:31 > 0:10:32is disgusting.
0:10:33 > 0:10:37Matt has some good advice for members of the public who get a call
0:10:37 > 0:10:39out of the blue from anyone demanding money.
0:10:41 > 0:10:44You need to make sure that you know who you're talking to.
0:10:44 > 0:10:46That means putting the phone down,
0:10:46 > 0:10:49doing your own independent research, phoning them back on a number
0:10:49 > 0:10:52that you've identified, not the number they've given you.
0:10:52 > 0:10:55Protect yourself and that's just by buying yourself some time
0:10:55 > 0:10:57and doing your research.
0:11:04 > 0:11:09Around 7,000 road accidents and 300 deaths each year in the UK
0:11:09 > 0:11:11are caused by drink-driving.
0:11:11 > 0:11:13This home breathalyser could help.
0:11:13 > 0:11:16It should tell you whether you're over the limit
0:11:16 > 0:11:17when you get behind the wheel.
0:11:17 > 0:11:21And if you're planning to drive in France, and 17 million of us
0:11:21 > 0:11:23will visit the country this year,
0:11:23 > 0:11:27then you'll need one in your vehicle because it's now the law.
0:11:27 > 0:11:31That means a lot of these things are going to be sold
0:11:31 > 0:11:34but, hopefully, not too many like this one.
0:11:34 > 0:11:36It's a fake.
0:11:37 > 0:11:40It's nightfall and we're out on the roads with officers
0:11:40 > 0:11:42from Dorset Police's traffic unit.
0:11:42 > 0:11:46They're on their way to a collision involving a young female driver
0:11:46 > 0:11:48who lost control and crashed into a parked car.
0:11:48 > 0:11:51Do you want to sort this out, while I go speak to the driver?
0:11:51 > 0:11:55She's not been seriously injured, there's doctors on scene. I'll just go and see her.
0:11:55 > 0:11:59Anyone involved in a road accident has to be breathalysed
0:11:59 > 0:12:03using one of these Home Office approved police breathalysers.
0:12:03 > 0:12:06Right. Fill your lungs with as much air as you can and keep blowing
0:12:06 > 0:12:08until I tell you to stop.
0:12:08 > 0:12:13Keep going, keep going, keep going, keep going. Well done. Thank you.
0:12:13 > 0:12:16You're zero. All right? Thank you very much for that.
0:12:18 > 0:12:21While alcohol wasn't to blame for this accident, nearly 300 deaths
0:12:21 > 0:12:25on British roads each year are caused by drink-driving.
0:12:26 > 0:12:29The police rely on genuine approved breathalysers that give
0:12:29 > 0:12:32accurate readings to make the roads safer.
0:12:32 > 0:12:35Unfortunately, sir, you've failed your test, so I arrest you.
0:12:36 > 0:12:40These help them to make over 40,000 drink-driving convictions ever year.
0:12:42 > 0:12:45Members of the public can now buy their own breathalyser.
0:12:45 > 0:12:50But Fake Britain has discovered that some machines, falsely claiming to
0:12:50 > 0:12:54be approved by the police, are being sold online for as little as a fiver.
0:12:55 > 0:12:59Dorset Trading Standards have been investigating these products.
0:12:59 > 0:13:02We've got concerns on these breathalysers
0:13:02 > 0:13:06where there are any links to the police or any claim
0:13:06 > 0:13:09that they are a professional item when quite clearly they're not.
0:13:09 > 0:13:13They're cheap quality which could result in a danger for the user
0:13:13 > 0:13:14and other road users.
0:13:14 > 0:13:18Trading Standards' main concern about these fake breathalysers
0:13:18 > 0:13:21is that they could give false readings.
0:13:22 > 0:13:25Fake Britain wanted to see if these cheaper online products
0:13:25 > 0:13:27matched the performance of the real thing.
0:13:27 > 0:13:32So, we bought several allegedly police approved breathalysers
0:13:32 > 0:13:36and took them to Lion Laboratories, a world leader in breath alcohol
0:13:36 > 0:13:40testing equipment, whose products are approved by the Home Office.
0:13:40 > 0:13:43Dr Paul Williams is a forensic alcohol expert.
0:13:43 > 0:13:47Plainly, these are all low cost instruments
0:13:47 > 0:13:50and they use a very inferior type of detection technology
0:13:50 > 0:13:52for the actual alcohol analysis.
0:13:52 > 0:13:55It's not a good start.
0:13:55 > 0:13:58The alcohol readings displayed on these so-called
0:13:58 > 0:14:02police approved breathalysers would be useless in this country.
0:14:02 > 0:14:05This instrument is set up to measure alcohol levels
0:14:05 > 0:14:08as would be used in the United States and Australia.
0:14:08 > 0:14:10Got nothing whatsoever to do with the United Kingdom
0:14:10 > 0:14:12or even mainland Europe.
0:14:12 > 0:14:15This booklet is absolutely useless in giving any information about that.
0:14:15 > 0:14:19Dr Williams decided to test the fake police breathalysers
0:14:19 > 0:14:21with the equipment he uses to test
0:14:21 > 0:14:24his genuine Home Office approved products.
0:14:24 > 0:14:27When he blows into these jars, they'll release a vapour that
0:14:27 > 0:14:31simulates human breath at various concentrations of alcohol.
0:14:31 > 0:14:34Firstly, how do these breathalysers perform
0:14:34 > 0:14:39when they're tested at 1.5 times the UK legal limit?
0:14:39 > 0:14:42This is telling me I have a blood alcohol level of 0.05
0:14:42 > 0:14:47which is just over half the legal limit in the United Kingdom.
0:14:47 > 0:14:50Whereas in fact, I'm 1.5 half times the legal limit.
0:14:50 > 0:14:54This machine is reading less than half of what it should do.
0:14:54 > 0:14:56This is grossly inaccurate.
0:14:56 > 0:14:59If you relied on this fake breathalyser to check you were fit
0:14:59 > 0:15:03to drive after drinking, you would break the law and risk your licence,
0:15:03 > 0:15:06not to mention the lives of other road users.
0:15:06 > 0:15:08It's got a reading of zero percent.
0:15:08 > 0:15:12It's actually telling me I've got no alcohol at all in my body.
0:15:12 > 0:15:15But how would these fake breathalysers react to breath
0:15:15 > 0:15:18from a person who is three times the UK legal limit?
0:15:18 > 0:15:21Yet again, the readings are zero.
0:15:21 > 0:15:25Anybody who relies on this is really playing with fire.
0:15:25 > 0:15:28All of these devices gave false readings
0:15:28 > 0:15:31and their claims to be approved by the police are fake.
0:15:31 > 0:15:36Dr Williams is concerned about the implications for road users.
0:15:36 > 0:15:39These devices are purported to measure alcohol levels accurately.
0:15:39 > 0:15:41But they are simply not.
0:15:41 > 0:15:43We seem to allow these machines to come into the country
0:15:43 > 0:15:45and be used to test people.
0:15:45 > 0:15:47These instruments should not be on sale to the public.
0:15:47 > 0:15:50They are certainly not police grade equipment.
0:15:50 > 0:15:54We showed our test results to the head of Dorset Police's traffic unit,
0:15:54 > 0:15:57Inspector Matt Butler.
0:15:57 > 0:15:59That's really quite scary.
0:15:59 > 0:16:02What worries me is people are going to think
0:16:02 > 0:16:04they're doing the right thing, they're being sensible,
0:16:04 > 0:16:06they're being safe, but in actual fact they're not.
0:16:06 > 0:16:09They may go out, they may think they're safe to drive
0:16:09 > 0:16:13and be involved in a crash, hurt themselves or hurt someone else.
0:16:13 > 0:16:16So what really worries me is these pieces of equipment, rather than
0:16:16 > 0:16:19making the roads safer they're actually making them more dangerous.
0:16:19 > 0:16:23The police and Dorset Trading Standards also carried out a survey
0:16:23 > 0:16:28of fake breathalysers bought online and their results were worrying.
0:16:28 > 0:16:31Nine devices out of the 14 said you were safe to drive
0:16:31 > 0:16:34when you weren't safe to drive.
0:16:34 > 0:16:37You cannot rely on a piece of equipment that you buy
0:16:37 > 0:16:40from the internet to make sure you are safe on the roads.
0:16:40 > 0:16:43You may think you are safe but you may be over the limit.
0:16:45 > 0:16:48The police officers on the front line who have to deal with
0:16:48 > 0:16:53the damage caused by drink-driving have a simple message for drivers.
0:16:53 > 0:16:56We go to these instances regularly and we have to go and deal
0:16:56 > 0:16:58with the consequence of it.
0:16:58 > 0:17:00Knock on the door, give the bad news to the family.
0:17:00 > 0:17:04The message we give people is, don't drink and drive. It's not worth it.
0:17:10 > 0:17:13Baking has taken off in a really big way.
0:17:13 > 0:17:18We now spend around £1.8 billion a year on home bakery products
0:17:18 > 0:17:21and one of the most popular ways to make your creation stand out
0:17:21 > 0:17:23is to use this, edible glitter.
0:17:23 > 0:17:26Just sprinkle it over your home-made cupcakes.
0:17:26 > 0:17:29But you've guessed it, it's not what it seems.
0:17:33 > 0:17:36It's fair to say that the nation has gone baking crazy.
0:17:36 > 0:17:41Over 40 million Brits say they enjoy baking at home. That's a lot of cake!
0:17:41 > 0:17:46And the cake decoration business is booming with sales of baking products
0:17:46 > 0:17:48up by over 60%.
0:17:48 > 0:17:50Now the fakers want a slice of the action.
0:17:52 > 0:17:55Susan Farmer is a cake entrepreneur.
0:17:55 > 0:17:58Her business had started selling glitter from a company called
0:17:58 > 0:18:00Edible Art of Durham.
0:18:00 > 0:18:02I was quite impressed when we got the product in.
0:18:02 > 0:18:04It was lovely and sparkly.
0:18:04 > 0:18:06Tried it on a few sample cakes and things like that
0:18:06 > 0:18:09so people could actually see it on a product.
0:18:09 > 0:18:13We could hardly keep it on the shelves some weeks, it was just flying off.
0:18:13 > 0:18:15I thought it was a lovely product
0:18:15 > 0:18:18so I was quite happy to recommend it to my customers.
0:18:18 > 0:18:22But Susan was about to lose trust in the edible glitter.
0:18:22 > 0:18:26The Food Standards Agency had become concerned that the glitter
0:18:26 > 0:18:29being sold as edible was anything but.
0:18:29 > 0:18:32Trading Standards began an investigation
0:18:32 > 0:18:34into Edible Art of Durham
0:18:34 > 0:18:37and took samples of the glitter from Susan's shelves
0:18:37 > 0:18:39and other stores across Yorkshire.
0:18:39 > 0:18:42There was some concern that some of these items were not actually
0:18:42 > 0:18:45foodstuffs and they contained other things.
0:18:45 > 0:18:47So we visited various cake shops in West Yorkshire
0:18:47 > 0:18:50to look at the items they were selling to make sure that they were
0:18:50 > 0:18:53compliant with the Food Standards Agency guidance.
0:18:53 > 0:18:57When Trading Standards looked at the jars of edible art glitter,
0:18:57 > 0:19:01there were no ingredients listed despite some labels claiming
0:19:01 > 0:19:03it was for human consumption.
0:19:03 > 0:19:07The authorities needed to find out exactly what was in this so-called edible glitter.
0:19:07 > 0:19:12Samples were sent off for testing at West Yorkshire's public laboratory.
0:19:12 > 0:19:14This was the first stage of the investigation,
0:19:14 > 0:19:17looking to get an idea of what the material is.
0:19:17 > 0:19:21A very simple test is just to put it in water. Does it dissolve?
0:19:21 > 0:19:24You see these little particles of glitter are not reacting with
0:19:24 > 0:19:28the water at all, and we just get this snowstorm effect.
0:19:28 > 0:19:30Immediately, that gives us an idea we are not
0:19:30 > 0:19:33looking at foodstuffs, we're looking at something else.
0:19:34 > 0:19:38So, the scientists had confirmed this glitter was not a food.
0:19:38 > 0:19:40What exactly was it?
0:19:40 > 0:19:43They decided to analyse the glitter and a microscope.
0:19:43 > 0:19:47The pieces of glitter were all similar in size
0:19:47 > 0:19:49and similar hexagonal shapes.
0:19:49 > 0:19:52Thin and very regular but yet with jagged edges.
0:19:52 > 0:19:55So not like a natural material at all.
0:19:55 > 0:19:58At this stage we were beginning to think it might have been plastic.
0:19:58 > 0:20:02Further tests confirmed Trading Standards' suspicions.
0:20:02 > 0:20:06The glitter was in fact made up of polyethylene terephthalate,
0:20:06 > 0:20:09the type of plastic used to make bottles.
0:20:09 > 0:20:12Edible Art glitter was definitely not edible
0:20:12 > 0:20:16but unsuspecting members of the public had been eating it.
0:20:16 > 0:20:17It's not a food.
0:20:17 > 0:20:20Physically, it's in tiny hexagons with jagged edges
0:20:20 > 0:20:23and isn't something people should be consuming.
0:20:23 > 0:20:27So, it was a clear breach of food safety legislation because here was
0:20:27 > 0:20:29a material, not a food, but a plastic
0:20:29 > 0:20:32being sold for human consumption.
0:20:34 > 0:20:37Now that Trading Standards knew the glitter was plastic,
0:20:37 > 0:20:39they also knew the claims on the labels
0:20:39 > 0:20:42suggesting the glitter was food must be fake.
0:20:42 > 0:20:46It says that the article contains E171, which is a food additive.
0:20:46 > 0:20:50It also has a use by date of 2030.
0:20:50 > 0:20:53A consumer would conclude that this item is an edible food glitter.
0:20:55 > 0:20:57And what about the name of the company
0:20:57 > 0:21:01making the fake edible glitter, EdAble Art Limited of Durham?
0:21:01 > 0:21:04Despite the unusual spelling of the word,
0:21:04 > 0:21:07it did suggest that the glitter was indeed edible.
0:21:07 > 0:21:10When Trading Standards questioned EdAble Art about this,
0:21:10 > 0:21:13the company had an interesting defence.
0:21:14 > 0:21:17The trader actually made some interesting comments
0:21:17 > 0:21:22that the phrase EdAble Art actually related to the name of three mice.
0:21:22 > 0:21:25So it was Ed, Able and Art.
0:21:25 > 0:21:28So it didn't actually mean that the product was edible,
0:21:28 > 0:21:30which I found slightly bizarre.
0:21:30 > 0:21:34But in essence, we took the view that this product, as labelled,
0:21:34 > 0:21:36would give rise to consumers believing
0:21:36 > 0:21:39that it was a foodstuff and would apply it to cakes.
0:21:41 > 0:21:44Back in Durham, Susan Farmer was told by Trading Standards
0:21:44 > 0:21:48to immediately remove her entire stock of fake glitter from her shelves.
0:21:48 > 0:21:52The general public were also being warned not to eat the fake glitter
0:21:52 > 0:21:55as its effects on the human body weren't known.
0:21:56 > 0:21:59When I found out what they found in the product,
0:21:59 > 0:22:01I was absolutely disgusted.
0:22:01 > 0:22:03I felt as if I had been duped for about three years
0:22:03 > 0:22:06because that is how long I was stocking the product.
0:22:08 > 0:22:10Susan hadn't just been selling the fake glitter,
0:22:10 > 0:22:14she had unwittingly been sprinkling the particles of plastic
0:22:14 > 0:22:17all over the cakes she'd baked for customers.
0:22:17 > 0:22:22I had used the glitter on wedding cakes, cupcakes, christening cakes,
0:22:22 > 0:22:24so obviously aimed at children,
0:22:24 > 0:22:29birthday cakes aimed at children, which is the biggest thing.
0:22:29 > 0:22:33It shocks you to think I've put this product on this cake
0:22:33 > 0:22:35that kids are going to be eating.
0:22:35 > 0:22:37It is not a nice feeling to have.
0:22:39 > 0:22:42But fake glitter is not the only fake baking product out there.
0:22:44 > 0:22:47In Swansea, Rhys Harries and his Trading Standards team
0:22:47 > 0:22:51have seized a batch of over 200 suspected fake cake toppers.
0:22:51 > 0:22:55Figurines that are used to decorate children's birthday cakes.
0:22:57 > 0:23:01These cake toppers, we found in a local patisserie store
0:23:01 > 0:23:06which was selling fresh cakes for birthdays, Christmas parties, etc.
0:23:06 > 0:23:10We have Minions, which are quite popular, Disney princess,
0:23:10 > 0:23:12lots of Spider-Man figures.
0:23:12 > 0:23:16We sent a sample of all of these off to the trademark holders being Disney and Marvel
0:23:16 > 0:23:19and they've confirmed that they're all counterfeit.
0:23:19 > 0:23:21None of them are genuine products.
0:23:21 > 0:23:23The fakers have even put fake Disney trademarks
0:23:23 > 0:23:25on some of the fake cake toppers.
0:23:25 > 0:23:28But the biggest worry for Swansea Trading Standards
0:23:28 > 0:23:32is that they will come into contact with food.
0:23:32 > 0:23:36We have concerns about them, really. First, what's in them?
0:23:36 > 0:23:39What hygienic conditions they were made in? Is it a lead-based paint?
0:23:39 > 0:23:43What is going to leach out from this plastic from the paints
0:23:43 > 0:23:45into the top of the cake?
0:23:45 > 0:23:48Any consumers looking to buy this type of cake topper
0:23:48 > 0:23:50or any other sort of branded good,
0:23:50 > 0:23:54they need to get some assurances first to make sure this is a genuine product
0:23:54 > 0:23:57and they are not buying a fake product that could be dangerous.
0:23:59 > 0:24:02Swansea Trading Standards are still investigating
0:24:02 > 0:24:03the source of the fake cake toppers.
0:24:06 > 0:24:09But back in Leeds, West Yorkshire Trading Standards finally
0:24:09 > 0:24:13brought a case against EdAble Art Limited of Durham
0:24:13 > 0:24:16for the sale of their not very edible fake glitter.
0:24:16 > 0:24:19It turned out the product had never been designed to be put on cakes.
0:24:19 > 0:24:22This business had in essence been passing off arts
0:24:22 > 0:24:26and crafts decorations as a food article, which is not acceptable.
0:24:26 > 0:24:29Their intended use was actually to be used on Christmas
0:24:29 > 0:24:32and birthday cards and should never have entered the food chain.
0:24:33 > 0:24:37The company was ordered to pay over £13,500 in fines and costs
0:24:37 > 0:24:40at Leeds Magistrates Court.
0:24:40 > 0:24:43Trading Standards hope that this will send a strong message
0:24:43 > 0:24:46to those supplying goods that breach the Food Safety Act.
0:24:46 > 0:24:49The penalties for the these sorts of offences are very serious.
0:24:49 > 0:24:54Trading Standards officers up and down the UK do take food samples on a regular basis
0:24:54 > 0:24:57and where they come back wrong or there is an element of fraud,
0:24:57 > 0:24:59traders should expect to be prosecuted.
0:25:06 > 0:25:08An interesting ornament.
0:25:08 > 0:25:12It was for sale online and the seller said it's made of cow bone
0:25:12 > 0:25:14and it's an antique.
0:25:14 > 0:25:15But it could be fake.
0:25:15 > 0:25:17It could be made of something else.
0:25:17 > 0:25:21Something that is at the heart of an illegal worldwide industry.
0:25:21 > 0:25:24So is this ivory?
0:25:28 > 0:25:32Every year, around 35,000 elephants are killed in Africa for their tusks
0:25:32 > 0:25:36to feed the multi-million pound illegal trade in ivory.
0:25:38 > 0:25:41Many websites have banned the sale of ivory because of the trail
0:25:41 > 0:25:45of destruction left in the wake of this illicit business.
0:25:45 > 0:25:47But fakers have discovered a way to bypass the law
0:25:47 > 0:25:50and sell their illegal ivory online.
0:25:50 > 0:25:54They're passing off products made from illegal ivory
0:25:54 > 0:25:56as being made of cow bone.
0:25:56 > 0:25:58Investigators like Tania McCrea-Steele
0:25:58 > 0:26:01from the International Fund for Animal Welfare
0:26:01 > 0:26:05are concerned that consumers could unwittingly get themselves
0:26:05 > 0:26:07wrapped up in an illicit trade.
0:26:07 > 0:26:12People might accidentally be buying an illegal ivory trinket
0:26:12 > 0:26:15and breaking the law without their knowledge or consent,
0:26:15 > 0:26:18not realising by doing that they're fuelling
0:26:18 > 0:26:22the slaughter of tens of thousands of elephants.
0:26:22 > 0:26:26Elephant ivory products made before 1947, before ivory laws
0:26:26 > 0:26:30came into force, can be legally sold in the antiques trade.
0:26:30 > 0:26:34But if they were made after 1947 then their sale is illegal
0:26:34 > 0:26:35under international law.
0:26:35 > 0:26:39Tania's team is concerned that the fakers are flouting the rules
0:26:39 > 0:26:42by lying about what type of bone their products are made from
0:26:42 > 0:26:46and if it turns out to be ivory, how old it might be.
0:26:47 > 0:26:50Today, the team is investigating suspicious adverts
0:26:50 > 0:26:53and passing their details on to the police.
0:26:53 > 0:26:54I have just gone online now
0:26:54 > 0:26:57and immediately I have found this item
0:26:57 > 0:27:01which is masquerading as a cow bone, but I believe that is a fake claim
0:27:01 > 0:27:03because this looks like it has got Schreger lines.
0:27:03 > 0:27:07Schreger lines are unique markings that can be seen in cross sections
0:27:07 > 0:27:11of elephant ivory, but never in cow bone.
0:27:11 > 0:27:14The lines can sometimes be seen in photographs in online adverts,
0:27:14 > 0:27:16like the one Tania has spotted here.
0:27:16 > 0:27:20The elephants are being killed far away on Africa savannas
0:27:20 > 0:27:23but this type of trade is bringing it into our homes.
0:27:23 > 0:27:26Fake Britain decided to investigate how easy it might be
0:27:26 > 0:27:31for a consumer to accidentally buy illegal fake ivory online.
0:27:31 > 0:27:35We bought this carving that claimed to be antique and made from cow bone.
0:27:35 > 0:27:40We took the carving to the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh
0:27:40 > 0:27:44for the vertebrates expert Dr Andrew Kitchener to examine.
0:27:44 > 0:27:47This is apparently made of cow bone,
0:27:47 > 0:27:50but in fact it has these very distinctive lines on it.
0:27:51 > 0:27:55This suggests the carving is not made of cow bone as claimed in the advert.
0:27:55 > 0:27:59But it's actually made from an elephant's ivory tusk.
0:28:01 > 0:28:04These are slices through an elephant tusk.
0:28:04 > 0:28:07This is towards the base of the tusk where you can see the pulp cavity,
0:28:07 > 0:28:10which is where all the blood vessels and nerves are.
0:28:10 > 0:28:14This tells us from the orientation of this piece
0:28:14 > 0:28:17that it was cut from the outer curve of a tusk.
0:28:17 > 0:28:21The fact that it claims to be cow bone is just a complete fake.
0:28:22 > 0:28:24So this is ivory.
0:28:24 > 0:28:26But what kind of ivory is it?
0:28:26 > 0:28:28And where did it come from?
0:28:28 > 0:28:32To find out, Fake Britain turned to forensic science.
0:28:32 > 0:28:34I am just going to remove the wheels.
0:28:34 > 0:28:36In the past few weeks,
0:28:36 > 0:28:40Dr Lucy Webster at the Wildlife DNA Forensic Unit in Edinburgh
0:28:40 > 0:28:44has been running tests to extract DNA from the bone carving.
0:28:44 > 0:28:46A DNA test will allow us
0:28:46 > 0:28:49to distinguish between the different elephant species
0:28:49 > 0:28:52and whether it has come from an African elephant or an Asian elephant,
0:28:52 > 0:28:56to see what type of ivory this may have been carved from.
0:28:56 > 0:29:02The results of the DNA test confirm that our carving is fake fake ivory.
0:29:02 > 0:29:04Despite the claims in the advert,
0:29:04 > 0:29:08it is definitely made from the ivory tusks of an African elephant,
0:29:08 > 0:29:12which is an endangered species and protected by international law.
0:29:13 > 0:29:17Further analysis showed our ivory carving to be illegal.
0:29:17 > 0:29:22It was made well after 1947 and is not antique as stated in the advert.
0:29:22 > 0:29:27Fake Britain has handed the illegal fake ivory carving over to Alan Roberts
0:29:27 > 0:29:31of the National Wildlife Crime Unit for further investigation.
0:29:31 > 0:29:35He has a word of warning for anyone buying carvings online.
0:29:35 > 0:29:38If you buy something that is mis-described,
0:29:38 > 0:29:40that might be unlawful,
0:29:40 > 0:29:43that might find you with a knock on the door from the police,
0:29:43 > 0:29:47A - you lose your item, B - you may be prosecuted for it
0:29:47 > 0:29:51and end up in court for something you can quite easily avoid
0:29:51 > 0:29:54by buying it through a legitimate source.
0:30:00 > 0:30:03So you need some work done at your home.
0:30:03 > 0:30:05Who do you get to do it properly?
0:30:05 > 0:30:07Well, you might look for someone
0:30:07 > 0:30:10who is a member of a recognised trade association or federation.
0:30:10 > 0:30:12Thousands of builders, roofers, plumbers
0:30:12 > 0:30:15and window installers belong to them.
0:30:15 > 0:30:18This is a quotation for work at a house in Staffordshire
0:30:18 > 0:30:22and it has loads of trade association logos on it.
0:30:22 > 0:30:23But they are all fake.
0:30:23 > 0:30:27And that caused the home owner all sorts of problems.
0:30:29 > 0:30:31Home renovation is big business
0:30:31 > 0:30:37with the average home improvement project costing £13,000.
0:30:37 > 0:30:39But who can you trust to do it?
0:30:39 > 0:30:43Well, for every aspect of building work there's a relevant trade association
0:30:43 > 0:30:45designed to improve standards
0:30:45 > 0:30:49and to prevent consumers falling prey to rogue tradesmen.
0:30:49 > 0:30:52To be a member of the trade association, a tradesmen must
0:30:52 > 0:30:56often have the right qualifications and sign up to a code of practice.
0:30:56 > 0:30:59In return, they can use the association's logo
0:30:59 > 0:31:02to reassure and attract customers.
0:31:02 > 0:31:05Customers like home owner Kevin Price.
0:31:05 > 0:31:07The roof itself was in a bit of a mess.
0:31:07 > 0:31:10It was about 30 years old, possibly even 40 years old.
0:31:10 > 0:31:13Last year, Kevin decided to carry out some major roofing work
0:31:13 > 0:31:16to his house in Staffordshire.
0:31:16 > 0:31:19He turned to the internet and before long found the right person.
0:31:19 > 0:31:21Or so he thought.
0:31:21 > 0:31:25The gentleman was very amenable on the phone. He sounded very friendly.
0:31:25 > 0:31:27He seemed to know what he was talking about.
0:31:27 > 0:31:30He was very quick to get the quotation to me.
0:31:31 > 0:31:34And Kevin was reassured that the roofer
0:31:34 > 0:31:37appeared to be a member of various trade associations.
0:31:37 > 0:31:40This is the quotation that he actually sent through.
0:31:40 > 0:31:44Here is the list of jobs that he said he was going to do.
0:31:44 > 0:31:47At the bottom you can actually see some logos, which I thought
0:31:47 > 0:31:52at the time was a good sign that he was an accredited tradesmen.
0:31:52 > 0:31:55But the logos that really got Kevin's attention
0:31:55 > 0:31:58were the ones for an organisation called CompetentRoofer,
0:31:58 > 0:32:00a government backed scheme.
0:32:00 > 0:32:06I gave the gentleman the contract to do the job because of the logo.
0:32:07 > 0:32:10Ray Horwood is the chief executive of CompetentRoofer,
0:32:10 > 0:32:14which was set up to help improve standards in the roofing industry.
0:32:15 > 0:32:18The CompetentRoofer scheme allows members
0:32:18 > 0:32:21to certify their own work for building regulations.
0:32:21 > 0:32:24They also have to meet strict standards.
0:32:24 > 0:32:26To be a member, you have to be vetted
0:32:26 > 0:32:29both in terms of the paperwork and on-site.
0:32:29 > 0:32:33In terms of paperwork, we check the credit rating of the company,
0:32:33 > 0:32:37we check they have got the correct insurance and liability insurance.
0:32:37 > 0:32:41We also check they have the qualifications necessary to do that work.
0:32:41 > 0:32:45We then send someone out to inspect them and check some work
0:32:45 > 0:32:49actually in progress to make sure they are competent to do it.
0:32:49 > 0:32:54Ray believes that while no scheme is perfect, his is not far off.
0:32:54 > 0:32:57If there is something wrong with the roof,
0:32:57 > 0:33:00we will go back to the company and ask them to fix it.
0:33:00 > 0:33:03If the company for example becomes bankrupt in the ten years,
0:33:03 > 0:33:06they have got a warranty that covers it.
0:33:06 > 0:33:09So, really, it is the best guarantee you can possibly have.
0:33:10 > 0:33:13And so Kevin thought his tradesman,
0:33:13 > 0:33:15complete with his CompetentRoofer membership,
0:33:15 > 0:33:17was bound to do a good job.
0:33:17 > 0:33:21But not long after employing him, things started to go wrong.
0:33:22 > 0:33:24The first thing that we noticed
0:33:24 > 0:33:28was that the tiles on the gable end looked more like a jigsaw.
0:33:28 > 0:33:31They weren't in line, they weren't as straight.
0:33:31 > 0:33:35As you can see, that was the job that was left by the builder.
0:33:35 > 0:33:38This completely contravenes any building regulations whatsoever.
0:33:38 > 0:33:40As Kevin would find out,
0:33:40 > 0:33:43this was just the beginning of his roofing woes.
0:33:43 > 0:33:45We went inside the property and opened the loft hatch
0:33:45 > 0:33:50where my father-in-law was actually showered by all of the foam
0:33:50 > 0:33:53that had just been left in the loft space.
0:33:53 > 0:33:56Half of the work that he was claiming to have been done
0:33:56 > 0:33:58hadn't been done.
0:33:58 > 0:34:02Kevin was now so concerned about the roof he felt he had no choice
0:34:02 > 0:34:05but to ask a second company to come over and take a look.
0:34:05 > 0:34:07What they found was even more worrying.
0:34:07 > 0:34:10The tiles themselves were not fitted correctly.
0:34:10 > 0:34:13They were loose and if there was any high wind
0:34:13 > 0:34:15all of those would have been ripped off the roof
0:34:15 > 0:34:17because none were nailed in place.
0:34:17 > 0:34:20And they actually removed some of the tiles
0:34:20 > 0:34:23to find the batons inside had been cut.
0:34:23 > 0:34:26They basically said this had been laid by almost an amateur
0:34:26 > 0:34:29and the whole roof had to be taken off and redone.
0:34:29 > 0:34:33Kevin was left wondering how this disastrous turn of events
0:34:33 > 0:34:35could have come about.
0:34:35 > 0:34:38After all, he had hired a reputable company which seemed to have the
0:34:38 > 0:34:43backing of a government approved scheme and had the logo to prove it.
0:34:43 > 0:34:45I thought I was going to get a quality service
0:34:45 > 0:34:48and I was going to have a standard of workmanship
0:34:48 > 0:34:52that would be expected of a trading professional.
0:34:52 > 0:34:54Finally, Kevin had had enough.
0:34:54 > 0:34:58He contacted CompetentRoofer in the hope that they would intervene.
0:34:58 > 0:35:00But he was in for a shock.
0:35:00 > 0:35:04I was advised that the logo was actually fake,
0:35:04 > 0:35:07that the gentleman was not a member of their organisation
0:35:07 > 0:35:12nor had they ever received an application from either him or from the business
0:35:12 > 0:35:17and they basically advised me to get in touch with Trading Standards.
0:35:17 > 0:35:20Kevin had been the victim of a simple deception known as logo abuse.
0:35:20 > 0:35:24The fake accreditation had duped him into hiring a rogue trader.
0:35:24 > 0:35:27All the way through, he kept telling me that he wasn't a cowboy,
0:35:27 > 0:35:29he wasn't ripping me off.
0:35:29 > 0:35:33I have since found out that he's been ripping off a lot of people.
0:35:33 > 0:35:37There are other people who have suffered at his hands.
0:35:37 > 0:35:39So what is CompetentRoofer doing
0:35:39 > 0:35:42to prevent fraudulent use of its logo?
0:35:42 > 0:35:47Chief executive Ray Horwood says they take action wherever they can.
0:35:48 > 0:35:51Anybody who runs any kind of successful business
0:35:51 > 0:35:57or successful mark will know that however many strengths
0:35:57 > 0:36:01you put into your work in guaranteeing that logo,
0:36:01 > 0:36:03people can copy it.
0:36:03 > 0:36:07So we get it on a semi-regular basis
0:36:07 > 0:36:11and any report of misuse of logo,
0:36:11 > 0:36:14we go straight to Trading Standards and they follow it up.
0:36:14 > 0:36:17The use of fake logos is a prosecutable offence
0:36:17 > 0:36:20and can carry a hefty fine.
0:36:20 > 0:36:23But that's not enough to prevent widespread logo abuse.
0:36:23 > 0:36:28Kevin's roofer wasn't just faking CompetentRoofer logos.
0:36:28 > 0:36:32Trust Mark is the Government's flagship approved trader scheme.
0:36:32 > 0:36:34He was also faking the Trust Mark logo
0:36:34 > 0:36:37and he's not the only faker out there.
0:36:37 > 0:36:39We spoke to Trust Mark who told us
0:36:39 > 0:36:43they have been the victim of persistent logo abuse
0:36:43 > 0:36:47with over 200 companies found to be falsely using the logo in one year alone.
0:36:48 > 0:36:52Kevin took the roofing company to the Small Claims Court.
0:36:52 > 0:36:54Judgment in default was entered against them
0:36:54 > 0:36:57because they failed to respond to the proceedings.
0:36:57 > 0:37:00Fake Britain tried to contact the company for comment,
0:37:00 > 0:37:02but nobody responded.
0:37:02 > 0:37:04For Kevin and his family,
0:37:04 > 0:37:07the ordeal has taken a huge emotional and financial toll.
0:37:09 > 0:37:13The gentleman charged us £3,360.
0:37:13 > 0:37:17It cost a further £2,510 to put right what he had done.
0:37:17 > 0:37:19I have resigned myself to the fact
0:37:19 > 0:37:23that I'm never going to see a penny of that money ever again.
0:37:31 > 0:37:35Fairy lights used to be just for Christmas.
0:37:35 > 0:37:37Now, they can glitter away all year round
0:37:37 > 0:37:39at parties, events and in shops,
0:37:39 > 0:37:42adding a bit of sparkle and colour to our lives
0:37:42 > 0:37:44or just making us feel more cheerful.
0:37:44 > 0:37:49But as with anything you're going to plug into mains electricity, they need to be absolutely safe.
0:37:49 > 0:37:51So I don't think I'll plug these ones in.
0:37:51 > 0:37:53Because they are fake.
0:37:56 > 0:38:00From our homes to our shops, we love LED fairy lights.
0:38:00 > 0:38:04They are a cost-effective way of bringing sparkle to our surroundings.
0:38:05 > 0:38:07Will Lightburn from West Sussex
0:38:07 > 0:38:09decided to get some to spruce up his house.
0:38:09 > 0:38:12Driving around, I kept seeing all these houses
0:38:12 > 0:38:15with these fancy new LEDs, like blue ones.
0:38:15 > 0:38:17And I thought, they look quite nice.
0:38:17 > 0:38:22I ought to put a set of those up because my place looks pretty dark
0:38:22 > 0:38:24in comparison with other places around.
0:38:24 > 0:38:28Will decided to look online for some fairy lights
0:38:28 > 0:38:30that would brighten up the front of his house.
0:38:30 > 0:38:33He ordered some and they arrived a few days later.
0:38:33 > 0:38:35Will couldn't wait to use them.
0:38:37 > 0:38:42Looked all right. I unwrapped them and put the lights on the trees.
0:38:42 > 0:38:46I tested them out and they worked and they looked really good.
0:38:46 > 0:38:49So far, so good, but the plug was about to be pulled
0:38:49 > 0:38:52on the new look Will had given his home.
0:38:52 > 0:38:55One evening I came home and I noticed some of them weren't working
0:38:55 > 0:38:58and I thought I must go and investigate what's up with those.
0:38:58 > 0:39:01So I started just going through them,
0:39:01 > 0:39:03starting at one end and flexing them,
0:39:03 > 0:39:06looking at them for broken wires
0:39:06 > 0:39:08and when I got to pretty much the end one,
0:39:08 > 0:39:11the one furthest away from the control box,
0:39:11 > 0:39:14suddenly I got an electric shock.
0:39:15 > 0:39:18What Will hadn't realised was that his new fairy lights
0:39:18 > 0:39:21were live with mains electric current.
0:39:21 > 0:39:23It was painful,
0:39:23 > 0:39:27but I dropped them straight away as soon as I got the shock.
0:39:27 > 0:39:30The reaction was to let go of the lights.
0:39:30 > 0:39:33But I was more surprised than anything
0:39:33 > 0:39:36because it hadn't even crossed my mind that there could possibly be
0:39:36 > 0:39:40any mains voltage on those tiny little
0:39:40 > 0:39:42low-voltage LED lights.
0:39:44 > 0:39:47Will was surprised he had received a shock from lights
0:39:47 > 0:39:49that were carrying clear safety markings.
0:39:50 > 0:39:57They said that they were certified to safety standards on the listing.
0:39:57 > 0:40:00The seller looked pretty legitimate.
0:40:00 > 0:40:03The listing looked OK.
0:40:03 > 0:40:06Their feedback was OK and it had the address of the company.
0:40:06 > 0:40:10It was an English address so it's coming from England.
0:40:10 > 0:40:13So yes, I'm surprised they could get away with something like that.
0:40:15 > 0:40:18It turns out that Will's fairy lights aren't the only unsafe ones
0:40:18 > 0:40:20with safety markings out there.
0:40:21 > 0:40:25Ian Smith from Northampton Trading Standards recently raided an online
0:40:25 > 0:40:29seller of fake fairy lights very similar to those purchased by Will.
0:40:31 > 0:40:33We had considerable concerns with regard to the safety
0:40:33 > 0:40:37of the fairy lights in question and we felt
0:40:37 > 0:40:41we had no option but to take away those that he still had in stock.
0:40:41 > 0:40:44These are the fairy lights as we found them
0:40:44 > 0:40:46in the unit that was posting them out.
0:40:48 > 0:40:50This is how he received them, apparently.
0:40:50 > 0:40:52If we open one up...
0:40:55 > 0:40:58..we should find an example of the fairy lights that were being sent out.
0:40:58 > 0:41:00Brand-new.
0:41:01 > 0:41:05Ian sent the fairy lights to independent test house TUV,
0:41:05 > 0:41:08where expert Richard Poate carried out some safety checks.
0:41:08 > 0:41:11He was very concerned by his findings.
0:41:12 > 0:41:14I can put my finger on here.
0:41:14 > 0:41:16If I did this for real and this was plugged in,
0:41:16 > 0:41:20I would be having a serious mains electric shock right now.
0:41:20 > 0:41:22This electrocution risk could only mean one thing
0:41:22 > 0:41:25for the safety markings on the fairy lights.
0:41:26 > 0:41:31Symbols that are moulded into it are obviously intended to fool
0:41:31 > 0:41:36the authorities and consumers into believing that this item has been
0:41:36 > 0:41:40properly tested and complies with the European safety standards.
0:41:40 > 0:41:43But it isn't the case.
0:41:43 > 0:41:45The markings are fake.
0:41:45 > 0:41:48Fake safety markings but very real safety risks,
0:41:48 > 0:41:51as Trading Standards discovered when they examined
0:41:51 > 0:41:55a load of faulty lights returned by disgruntled customers.
0:41:57 > 0:42:00Consumers have returned items that have clearly either melted,
0:42:00 > 0:42:04got hot or in some instances clearly appear to have been on fire.
0:42:04 > 0:42:07On this one, the mains lead,
0:42:07 > 0:42:11the insulation of the wire along the mains lead appears to have melted,
0:42:11 > 0:42:15indicating that it has obviously been subject to a fair bit of heat.
0:42:15 > 0:42:21And the melting of the insulation also raises the possibility
0:42:21 > 0:42:25that a live wire could be exposed to a consumer as well.
0:42:26 > 0:42:29Ian thinks that fake fairy lights like this
0:42:29 > 0:42:32could be putting lives at risk across the country.
0:42:32 > 0:42:35If one of these items did catch fire in somebody's home,
0:42:35 > 0:42:40there is the potential risk that they will cause a fire
0:42:40 > 0:42:43and the follow-on risk of that is that
0:42:43 > 0:42:47if somebody's house is on fire it could lead to fatalities.
0:42:47 > 0:42:49Back in West Sussex,
0:42:49 > 0:42:52Will Lightburn is realising what a narrow escape he had.
0:42:52 > 0:42:55Luckily, I am quite a strong healthy chap.
0:42:55 > 0:42:58But you know, if a child had gone and touched it
0:42:58 > 0:43:01or one of my dogs had gone up and sniffed it with a wet nose,
0:43:01 > 0:43:03it might have been a different matter.
0:43:09 > 0:43:11That's all from Fake Britain. Goodbye.