Cyber police have uncovered a group of criminals selling counterfeit devices. The perpetrators impersonated well-known brands and tried to bribe law enforcement officers.
According to the investigation, the suspects purchased counterfeit products in China and resold them in Ukraine via the Internet. The counterfeit products were presented as products of a well-known company and had appropriate markings. The cyber police do not name which companies they were trying to counterfeit, but some photos show headphones that look like Apple's AirPods Max.
The activities of the defendants caused losses to the copyright holder totaling over 24 million hryvnias.
Cyber police, together with detectives from the Bureau of Economic Security of Ukraine, conducted 14 searches in the offices and residences of the suspects in the Dnipropetrovsk region. Among the seized devices were counterfeit watches, headphones, chargers, and more.
After examining product samples, specialists from the copyright holder company confirmed that it is counterfeit, of low quality, and the labeling and packaging do not meet the standards of the genuine manufacturer.
Currently, three persons involved have been notified of suspicions under Part 3 of Article 229 (Illegal use of a mark for goods and services, a company name, a qualified indication of the origin of goods) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. Two more persons have been notified of suspicions under Part 3 of Article 177 (Infringement of rights to an invention, utility model, industrial design, topography of an integrated circuit, plant variety, rationalization proposal) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
A pre-trial investigation has been initiated under Part 3 of Article 369 (Offer, promise or provision of an unlawful benefit to an official) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine regarding the two defendants who tried to bribe law enforcement officers.