counterfeit goods
French authorities uncover Côtes-du-Rhone wine scam
France's anti-fraud body says it has uncovered a huge scam in which a merchant tried to sell more than 48 million liters (some 12.7 million gallons) of wine falsely labeled as…
Ivory Coast faces uphill battle against counterfeit medicine
In Ivory Coast, the trafficking of fake and contraband medicine is a serious public health problem. Up to 40% of medical products bought in the country are picked up on the…
Naples, the fake banknote factory of Europe
According to Italian authorities, 90% of counterfeit euros in circulation are produced in Italy. The situation is particularly bad in and around Naples, where organised crime…
Fighting fakes: How to crack down on counterfeiting
In this edition, we're shining the spotlight on the fight against counterfeit goods. Every year it's believed that knock-offs to the tune of hundreds of billions of dollars…
Wine fraudster’s conviction ‘tip of iceberg’
A gripping New York trial this week of Indonesian wine dealer Rudy Kurniawan has revealed a troubling culture of turning a blind eye to counterfeit goods among fine wine-makers…
US wine dealer convicted over kitchen-bottled fakes
An Indonesian wine dealer based in Los Angeles who made millions selling "rare" counterfeit French wines to wealthy collectors was convicted of fraud in a New York court on…
Peru 'number one' producer of counterfeit US dollars
Peru has surpassed Colombia to become the number one producer of fake US currency, according to the US Secret Service. Authorities have seized $103 million worth of fake notes…
Europe's vintage wines grapple with Chinese fakes
As China’s taste for fine wines grows, fakes and copycat versions of famous European labels are becoming commonplace, but elite winemakers are fighting back with anti-counterfeit…
French customs seize 1.2 million doses of fake aspirin
On Saturday the French economy ministry announced the largest-ever seizure of fake medicines in France and the EU, after French customs officers discovered 1.2 million doses of…
A controversial Lebanese belly dancer, fake Apple Stores in China and odd coffins in Siberia
This week our Observers take us on stage with a Lebanese belly dancer, into a Chinese "Apple Stoer," and all the way to Siberia, where a coffin maker from Ghana is working on a…
