Briton Gary Bellchambers is the alleged mastermind of the counterfeiting network, which sold the fake-brand goods, manufactured in China, globally. -- PHOTO: THE TIMES |
LONDON - AN INTERNATIONAL network of criminals duped eBay customers into paying millions of pounds for counterfeit golf clubs in the largest fraud of its kind, British media reported on Wednesday.
Briton behind four-year online fraud
THE scam's alleged mastermind, Gary Bellchambers, a 45-year-old Briton, travelled frequently to China to source for counterfeit golf clubs.
His six co-conspirators, who deny conspiracy charges, are said to have managed accounts or acted as distributors. One golfer a month swindled in Singapore
AT LEAST one person a month in Singapore is swindled by online vendors peddling fake golf clubs. And there is little that big-name golf manufacturers can do to help them.
Mr Rick Brown, brand manager of Titleist and Cobra Acushnet Singapore, said that typically, customers find out that their online purchase is counterfeit only when they turn up at the store with a defective product. |
The prosecution told a London court on Tuesday that the four-year scam had been of a 'truly global nature', and eBay called it the 'single largest counterfeiting conspiracy yet uncovered' on their website, the Times newspaper said.
Prosecutor Adam Davies said that 'large sums' were continually being transferred between accounts held by Bellchambers in Britain and Thailand. A sum of 73,000 (S$170,000) was transferred to one of the accounts in a month, he added.
'Nearly every major golf brand has been affected by the sale of counterfeit goods through the eBay accounts. It is the belief of the fraud investigation unit at eBay that this case represents the single largest counterfeiting conspiracy yet uncovered on their website,' he said.
From mid-2003 to early last year, the network was responsible for the sale and distribution of millions of pounds' worth of counterfeit goods both in the UK and abroad, primarily through eBay, the court was told.
'This is a conspiracy of a truly global nature. Conspirators are thought to have been based in the UK, Thailand, Australia, Germany, Singapore, the US, Hong Kong, China - and goods have been distributed from, or to, all those countries and more,' Mr Davies said.
The court heard that the downfall of the 'counterfeiting empire' had been triggered by a pensioner, Ms Christine Manz. She had bought clubs from Bellchambers but, unhappy with their quality, she asked for a refund.
Her letters to Bellchambers went unanswered as he was abroad at the time. Ms Manz then turned to the trading standards office in east London. Her complaint sparked an investigation, which led to raids at a string of addresses and the recovery of a 'large quantity' of fake clubs.
On Tuesday, the court was told that Bellchambers and two others had admitted to conspiring to sell or distribute golf clubs, clothing and accessories, bearing signs identical to, or likely to be mistaken for, registered trademarks. Bellchambers also admitted to two offences of unauthorised use of trademarks. The trial is expected to last three months.
You may be the victim of internet fraud if:
If you think you have been conned:
You have the same rights buying online as over the phone or by mail order. You can find out more on the Consumer Direct website and this helpline: 08454 04 05 06, or contact your local Citizens Advice Bureau.
The internet provides criminals with an easy way to contact thousands of people at a time. Examples include, emails offering the chance to take part in money making schemes, or claiming you are the winner of a prize draw.
You can avoid being a victim of internet fraud by: