Counterfeiting is such a big business that it is threatening the profits of the original design houses.  This shadow economy, according to Tim Phillips the writer of Knockoff: The Deadly Trade in Counterfeit Goods, would be the world’s biggest business if it were a named business.  Counterfeiting is known to account for 7% of world trade and may be as high as 10%.

A high percentage of traded goods, including clothes and accessories are counterfeit.  More alarming, is the knowledge that these goods include fake products that may be taken into or used on the body. Yes – your body, my body, not necessarily some anonymous person, but you or me.  This problem of fake goods is in everyone’s backyard or doorstep.

Fake handbags and rip off trainers may seem harmless when chatting among girlfriends as they do not cause many potentially harmful problems.  Sadly, many people consider it all perfectly acceptable and think their contribution to this shadow economy won’t make any difference.  But the same suppliers of fake handbags also supply other products that may cause harm for individuals.

Fake cosmetics and pharmaceuticals include somewhat alarmingly, fake Tamiflu, cardiac heart pills, defective hip implant parts as well as fake guns (Glock pistols) and airplane replacement parts.  Just imagine having no response to a faulty drug for a serious ailment, or a faulty car part that causes a lethal or even minor accident.