The Ministry of Domestic Trade seized RM350,000 worth of counterfeit Epson ink bottles from an online seller during a raid in Kajang. Epson Southeast Asia, applauding the enforcement, is working to safeguard its brand and consumers from counterfeit products by urging customers to buy from authorized dealers.
15 October 2024 – The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Costs of Living (Kajang Branch) successfully carried out a major raid on 28 August 2024, seizing over 10,000 counterfeit Epson printer ink bottles from a warehouse in Desa Sri Jenaris, Kajang, Selangor. This operation, one of the largest counterfeit ink seizures in Malaysia, is valued at nearly RM350,000.
Investigations revealed that the fake Epson ink bottles were imported from China and sold by an online seller known as “SIEWLEETOH940” on Shopee. Despite having a high 4.9-star rating and offering a variety of 30 products, including printer ink, toys, and home appliances, the seller faced complaints about counterfeit and damaged items, prompting Epson to launch an investigation.
Epson Southeast Asia expressed concern over the impact of these counterfeit products, which not only damage the brand’s reputation but also affect legitimate businesses dealing in genuine Epson products. A spokesperson from Epson stated, “Fake Epson products are inferior in quality and this damages the reputation of Epson when customers are duped into buying them. Additionally, the rampant sale of fake ink online undermines the livelihood of honest businesses.”
Epson has praised the Enforcement Division of the Ministry for their efforts and affirmed their commitment to working together to remove counterfeit listings and take legal action against sellers of fake products. “We will continue to collaborate with the Enforcement Division and take action to protect both our dealers and customers,” Epson Southeast Asia further commented.
The company is also urging consumers to purchase genuine Epson products from authorized dealers, whose list can be found on Epson’s official website, ensuring that they receive authentic and reliable products.
Selling counterfeit goods is a serious criminal offence under Malaysia’s Trademarks Act 2019 and Trade Descriptions Act 2011, with offenders facing hefty fines and potential jail sentences. Epson’s proactive steps in identifying and eliminating counterfeit products serve as a reminder to both sellers and consumers of the importance of purchasing from authorized sources.
