UK Cracks Down on Fake Uggs, Jewelry

(Sky News) - Police in London have been involved in a major operation to close down hundreds of illegal internet shopping sites, Sky News can reveal.

Officers from the Metropolitan Police e-Crime Unit have worked in recent weeks to identify more than 1,200 scam websites that claimed to offer designer goods, jewelry and electronic items. Customers either received nothing, or were sent counterfeit products.

The operation concentrated on sites selling a number of designer items - including Ugg Australia Boots, GHD hair straighteners, and jewelry from Tiffany & Co and Links of London.

The vast majority of the sites were registered from Asia and mostly used false or misleading details, making it almost impossible for victims to complain about poor quality, counterfeited items or goods not received. It also made it difficult for Trading Standards or other law enforcement agencies to take action.

Several thousand people are believed to have been caught up in the scam, which is thought to have netted organized criminal networks millions of dollars.

The officer in charge of the operation, Detective Superintendent Charlie McMurdie, said, "Fraudsters target the victim's desire to buy designer goods at reduced prices, particularly at this time of year. The risk begins when your desire to purchase blinds your judgment or leads you to illegal websites. If it looks too good to be true, it probably is."

Victims also ran the risk of the criminals stealing their identity, credit card and banking details for misuse elsewhere.

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