Internet fraudster’s fake camera online shop shut down
An internet fraudster who sold fake camera equipment online has been ordered by a judge to pay back more than £87,000 in illegal earnings.
Baveshgar Rameshgar’s home was raided by the council’s trading standards team after reports of fake Canon camera equipment being sold in counterfeit boxes, in an attempt to pass the items off as genuine articles.
Batteries which were also confiscated during the raid were suspected of not complying with EU safety legislation.
The 35-year-old, who traded as KG Deal UK, admitted six counts under the Trade Mark Act 1994 of supplying counterfeit items, intending to sell another 666 pieces of camera equipment purporting to be Canon, and possession of 92 pieces of counterfeit packaging for sale.
Judge Edward Burgess QC, sitting at Reading Crown Court on Friday 19 July, ordered Mr Rameshgar to pay back £87,500 during a joint sentencing and Proceeds of Crime Act hearing where it was decided that was the figure of illegal financial gain.
He sold fake goods to unsuspecting members of the public all around the country on Amazon. When intelligence was passed to the council’s trading standards department test purchases were conducted and the counterfeit equipment dispatched and received.
A warrant was then obtained to search Mr Rameshgar’s home in Hammond Road, Southall, on 13 January, 2016 (corr), where the rest of the goods were found and seized.
Mr Rameshgar was also sentenced to a community order of 125 hours of unpaid work. He was ordered to pay a £5,000 contribution to prosecution costs and a £60 victim surcharge.
Judge Burgess ordered for the counterfeit equipment to be destroyed.
Confiscations under the Proceeds of Crime Act are made to take the profit out of crime and a portion of this order will be paid to Slough Borough Council to further enforcement work.
Cllr Pavitar K. Mann, cabinet member for planning and regulation, said counterfeiting is not a victimless crime.
She said: “Counterfeiting deprives legitimate traders not just of their profits, but deprives government and local authorities of tax, VAT and business rates and in many cases can fund organised crime.
“In addition, counterfeit goods can be dangerous for the public to use and in many cases do not meet EU safety standards.
“Slough Borough Council will take a robust stand against counterfeit goods that disadvantage both residents and traders.”
Baveshgar Rameshgar’s home was raided by the council’s trading standards team after reports of fake Canon camera equipment being sold in counterfeit boxes, in an attempt to pass the items off as genuine articles.
Batteries which were also confiscated during the raid were suspected of not complying with EU safety legislation.
The 35-year-old, who traded as KG Deal UK, admitted six counts under the Trade Mark Act 1994 of supplying counterfeit items, intending to sell another 666 pieces of camera equipment purporting to be Canon, and possession of 92 pieces of counterfeit packaging for sale.
Judge Edward Burgess QC, sitting at Reading Crown Court on Friday 19 July, ordered Mr Rameshgar to pay back £87,500 during a joint sentencing and Proceeds of Crime Act hearing where it was decided that was the figure of illegal financial gain.
He sold fake goods to unsuspecting members of the public all around the country on Amazon. When intelligence was passed to the council’s trading standards department test purchases were conducted and the counterfeit equipment dispatched and received.
A warrant was then obtained to search Mr Rameshgar’s home in Hammond Road, Southall, on 13 January, 2016 (corr), where the rest of the goods were found and seized.
Mr Rameshgar was also sentenced to a community order of 125 hours of unpaid work. He was ordered to pay a £5,000 contribution to prosecution costs and a £60 victim surcharge.
Judge Burgess ordered for the counterfeit equipment to be destroyed.
Confiscations under the Proceeds of Crime Act are made to take the profit out of crime and a portion of this order will be paid to Slough Borough Council to further enforcement work.
Cllr Pavitar K. Mann, cabinet member for planning and regulation, said counterfeiting is not a victimless crime.
She said: “Counterfeiting deprives legitimate traders not just of their profits, but deprives government and local authorities of tax, VAT and business rates and in many cases can fund organised crime.
“In addition, counterfeit goods can be dangerous for the public to use and in many cases do not meet EU safety standards.
“Slough Borough Council will take a robust stand against counterfeit goods that disadvantage both residents and traders.”
