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Lisa Hoover 0 Junior Poster

Proving that no holiday is sacred, The Register is reporting today on not one but two scams involving fake products to be on the lookout for this shopping season. Graphics card vendor HIS sent out an alert that, despite reports to the contrary, the company has .

HIS marketing chief Peter Yeung told The Register in no uncertain terms that "HIS has no plan for netbook products" and promised "swift legal action" against whomever is behind the counterfeit devices.

In similar news, British customs agents seized hundreds of allegedly counterfeit Nintendo DS and DS Lite handheld video games. Nintendo representatives say they are also aware of fake DSi and Wii gaming consoles also appearing on the open market.

A company spokesperson says an unusually low price should be the first tip-off you're probably looking at a counterfeit product. "If you're getting the console for less than £70 there's probably something wrong with it. Also, genuine Nintendo products come sealed in a single box. The fakes come in a badly packed box with the power adapter supplied separately."

Fake computer hardware is, unfortunately, nothing new. In 2005, U.S. Customs and Border Protection of counterfeit computers and accessories with a reported value of more than $4 million.

The bottom line to these Grinchly news stories is that if you're considering equipping your employees with new netbooks or handing out game systems as holiday bonuses, then caveat emptor.

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As pointed out, counterfeit electronics keep showing up in retail channels and can be hard to spot until after deployment. The following practical checks and small-procurement practices reduce risk for both consumers and IT buyers; they focus on verification, safety, and what to do if something looks off. For how customs and border authorities treat counterfeit imports, see the CBP Intellectual Property Rights overview. (cbp.gov)

Quick verification checklist you can do before accepting a unit or completing payment:

  • Ask the seller for serial numbers and an invoice; validate serials with the manufacturer or support contact where possible.
  • Use system tools to confirm device/vendor IDs (Windows: Device Manager or dxdiag; for GPUs use GPU‑Z to read vendor/device IDs and compare to the advertised model). (techpowerup.com)
  • Inspect power adapters and batteries for proper safety marks and physical build quality.
  • Run a short acceptance test: boot, update firmware, run a stress/benchmark pass, monitor temperatures and behavior.

For organizations: require samples before volume buys, put serial numbers on the purchase order, and include an acceptance-testing clause in contracts. Counterfeit power supplies and fake safety labels are more than nuisance problems — they can be hazards; manufacturers and safety labs publish guidance on counterfeit safety marks and how to spot them. (ul.com)

If you suspect a fake, preserve photos, packaging, serials and the seller invoice, contact the brand’s support for validation, and report the case to the U.S. IPR Center (there’s an online report form) and to consumer-protection channels such as the FTC if you were scammed. Acting quickly helps enforcement and protects others. (iprcenter.gov)

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