Author: adminficci

FCC says California website offered fake Samsung and BlackBerry phones

A California website has been selling fake phones that came with seemingly legitimate “FCC Identifiers,” but ones that were were not authorized by Samsung. An online retailer, Panaystem, marketed counterfeit versions of the “Galaxy S Duos” and “Galaxy Ace” and  the BlackBerry model 9790, according to the enforcement wing of the Federal Communications Commission.

In a Tuesday announcement, the FCC claimed the devices offered by the California website contain bogus FCC identifiers — unique numbers that device makers must use to show their products meet technical specifications.

http://gigaom.com/2014/05/20/fcc-says-california-website-offered-fake-samsung-and-blackberry-phones/

Gibraltar: Spain hits back at UK accusing the Rock of increased tobacco smuggling

The Spanish Government has accused Britain of failing to tackle a sharp rise in tobacco smuggling at the border. In a statement marking the six-month deadline set by the European Commission following its visit last year, Spain also said that cooperation with law enforcement agencies in Gibraltar had deteriorated.

The statement by the Spanish Ministry for Foreign Affairs came a day after UK Europe Minister David Lidington denounced continued delays at the border and urged Spain to act on the EC recommendations. Spain has established, over the past few months, that the United Kingdom has to adopt the necessary measures to tackle smuggling,” the Spanish statement said. Cooperation with local Gibraltarian authorities, far from improving, unfortunately appears to be worsening.”

http://en.mercopress.com/2014/05/19/gibraltar-spain-hits-back-at-uk-accusing-the-rock-of-increased-tobacco-smuggling

Namibia: Police Seize N$14 Million Fake Goods

COUNTERFEIT goods worth N$14,5 million were confiscated by Windhoek police recently during a three-day operation code named ‘Wipe Out’, which targeted certain shops and individuals. Police spokesperson deputy Commissioner Edwin Kanguatjivi said 41 376 imitation items of different well-known brands like Nike, Puma, Adidas, Leviss and Samsung were seized, while 20 detention notices were issued to suspects. Officials from the Interpol bureau, Ministries of Finance, Home Affairs and representatives of the Namibian Society of Composers and Authors of Music (Nascam) and the private sector participated in the operation.

http://allafrica.com/stories/201405191109.html

Lafayette Hill man charged for smuggling goods into U.S., pirating movies, TV shows

A Lafayette Hill man has been charged by indictment for smuggling goods into the United States, trafficking in counterfeit labels and criminal copyright infringement, according to a press release from the United States Department of Justice. United States Attorney Zane David Memeger announced May 19 that Brian Bethman was charged on May 15. Between April 2010 and April 2011, Bethman smuggled in more than 6,000 audiovisual copies of movies and television shows that were protected by copyright, according to the indictment. The press release says the television shows included, but were not limited to: “House,” “Criminal Minds,” “NCIS,” “Weeds,” “The Office” and “Royal Pains”; the movies included, but were not limited to: “Justfied,” “The Pacific,” “Dead Like Me” and “Bambi.”

http://www.montgomerynews.com/articles/2014/05/19/colonial_news/news/doc537a801608249078737064.txt

Spain Hits Back At Britain Over Border Smuggling

The Spanish Government has accused Britain of failing to tackle a sharp rise in tobacco smuggling at the border. In a statement marking the six-month deadline set by the European Commission following its visit last year, Spain also said that cooperation with law enforcement agencies in Gibraltar had deteriorated. The statement by the Spanish Ministry for Foreign Affairs came a day after UK Europe Minister David Lidington denounced continued delays at the border and urged Spain to act on the EC recommendations. “Spain has established, over the past few months, that the United Kingdom has to adopt the necessary measures to tackle smuggling,” the Spanish statement said.
“Cooperation with local Gibraltarian authorities, far from improving, unfortunately appears to be worsening.” The Spanish ministry cited a recent incident in which a Guardia Civil officer was injured at sea while intercepting cigarette smugglers in British waters.

Drive against fake products intensified in Sharjah

The drive will continue throughout the year to control the market, rein in frauds and the sale of counterfeit, restoring consumers’ confidence in the emirate’s market. An intensified campaign launched by the Sharjah Economic Development Department to crack down on counterfeit products in the local markets has resulted in the seizure of a large quantity of fake goods and their subsequent destruction by the department. The haul included car spare parts and personal care items like perfumes and skin and hair creams. A senior officer at the department, who declined to be named, said the drive will continue throughout the year to control the market, rein in frauds and the sale of counterfeit, restoring consumers’ confidence in the emirate’s market. Besides inspection of markets and shopping centres to ensure they are not selling fake products, the department is also seeking to raise public awareness of duplicate products and the harms they can cause.

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/kt-article-display-1.asp?xfile=data/nationgeneral/2014/May/nationgeneral_May127.xml&section=nationgeneral

Dodgers Give Hard Time to Commercial Taxmen

KOCHI: The city is the commercial hub of the state, but it is also causing huge losses to the government exchequer in the form of commercial tax evasion. Officials with the Commercial Taxes Department said that around 60 percentage of such cases reported in the state are from Kochi. “For the last several years, around 60 percentage of commercial tax evasion cases were reported from Kochi. This is because, business activities are high in Kochi and it is also located at the central part of the State. The tax rate is around 14 percentage and by evading it, the small scale businessmen can gain good profit,” said K Sundar, Deputy Commissioner, Commercial Taxes Department. The tax-evaded goods first reach Kochi and from here it is supplied to other parts of the state.

http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/Dodgers-Give-Hard-Time-to-Commercial-Taxmen/2014/05/16/article2226790.ece