HP has announced the seizure of counterfeit printing supplies destined for HP printers. The company supported Nigerian officials, who confiscated around 167,000 illicit items.
In late March 2017, local officials conducted raids at several premises in the Lagos area. The raided operation was also involved in manufacturing counterfeit print supplies for HP printers, and providing components illegally bearing the HP trademark to other counterfeiting organisations.
The illicit items seized by officials included ready-for-sale counterfeit cartridges as well as fake components, such as security labels and packaging. Before and after the raids took place, experts from HP’s Anti Counterfeiting and Fraud (ACF) Programme supported the authorities by providing key intelligence and identifying the seized items as counterfeit.
Counterfeiting is a crime. For users, such illegal imitations can cause a multitude of problems that can cause performance and reliability issues. Should your printer break because of using counterfeit printer ink or toner, you could also have issues with your manufacturer’s warranty becoming not applicable.
In contrast, original HP products are designed to meet HP’s strict quality and reliability standards, based on a long history of inventing and testing. Authentic HP LaserJet and HP inkjet cartridges, unlike counterfeits, benefit from superior performance and consistent results.
“HP is delighted that this illegal activity has been identified and the defrauding of thousands of innocent customers has been prevented,” said Olatunji Itiola, Country Supplies Business Manager, Nigeria and Ghana. “We are grateful to the Nigerian authorities for their cooperation in this matter. We are proud of the continued successes of the Anti Counterfeiting and Fraud Programme, and we will continue to work hard to protect customers from potentially dangerous fake printing products.”
Across EMEA over the last five years, approximately 12 million counterfeits and components have been seized by local authorities, supported by HP. HP has conducted over 4,500 audits and inspections (CPPAs and CDIs) of partners’ stocks or suspicious deliveries for customers.
Through HP’s Anti Counterfeiting and Fraud (ACF) Programme, the company actively educates its customers and partners to be vigilant against fake printing supplies. It also cooperates closely with local and global law enforcement authorities to detect and dismantle illegal operations that produce counterfeit HP printing components.
