Report: 91% Customers Consider Counterfeiting Inimical to Business

By Emma Okonji

Findings from a recent HP survey in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) has shown that 91 per cent of surveyed customers believe counterfeits present a risk to their business.

According to the report, “Over 97 per cent of customers see HP’s Customer Delivery Inspections (CDIs) as a valuable service for their business, and 96 per cent feel they protect them from falling victim to fraudsters.”

Customer Delivery Inspections, which are a free and effective feature of HP’s Anti-Counterfeit and Fraud (ACF) programme, offer customers a reliable way to confirm the authenticity of their stock.

They involve on-site checks of suspicious large or mid-sized cartridge deliveries in response to reports initiated by HP customers. If dubious deliveries are found, the HP ACF team are proactively alerted, and can follow up with appropriate action. Amid the COVID-19 disruption, HP has also offered photo-based CDIs if circumstances do not allow for an on-site visit.

The report also revealed that 60 per cent of customers planned to take steps to purchase safely in future, directly following with the HP CDI guidance. As a result, 98 per cent of customers surveyed would recommend HP CDIs to other customers.

Analysing the report, Global Lead of Supplies Anti-Counterfeit and Fraud Programme, Suanne Schoewitz-Franchi, said: “At HP, we are incredibly proud of the positive feedback our customers have given in response to our Customer Delivery Inspections. Unlike counterfeit goods, HP Originals are designed to meet our strict quality and reliable standards and to deliver superb performance and consistent results.”

According to Schoewitz-Franchi, “Our high standards go beyond our products. With our survey finding that 91 per cent of surveyed customers believe counterfeits present a risk to their business, it is important that we continue to fight fraudulent activity and ensure our customers have access to a reliable source of information and advice so that they have a peace of mind when buying HP products.

“With this in mind, HP maintains its commitment to protect our customers through our Anti-Counterfeit and Fraud programme, as shown by our quick action to adapt CDIs in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.”

Across EMEA over the last five years, HP has supported local law enforcement authorities to seize around 12.5 million items, including counterfeit cartridges, hardware products, and components.

Between October 2019 to March 2020, HP, together with local authorities in Kenya, Nigeria and Tanzania, successfully obstructed a number of counterfeit trading programmes and removed close to 200,000 illicit products from the African region, including fake HP printer cartridges and components to assemble further counterfeits.

HP said it is dedicated to empowering channel partners, customers, and enforcement authority representatives with the knowledge to identify fraudulent supplies and protect business. In EMEA, close to 7,000 stakeholders have attended HP’s dedicate Education and Prevention activities. The company also cooperates closely with local and global law enforcement authorities to detect and dismantle illegal operations that produce counterfeit HP printing components.