Leicestershire Women Jailed for £480K Facebook Scam Involving Fake Products

Two Leicestershire Women Busted for £480K Facebook Counterfeit Scam Selling Fake Luxury Brands
Leicestershire Women Jailed for £480K Facebook Scam Involving Fake Products
Written By:
Somatirtha
Reviewed By:
Atchutanna Subodh
Published on

Two women from Leicestershire have been sentenced for running a profitable fake goods operation on Facebook. According to reports, they deceived consumers with counterfeit luxury brands and earned nearly £480,000 in just 16 months.

Helen Brindley-Walker and Lisa McArdle operated a Facebook group named "Get The Look," which sold counterfeit goods and fake versions of high-end brands. This included companies such as Adidas, Nike, Apple, Tiffany, and YSL. 

How Did Facebook Group Turn into Rs. 5 Crore Scam?

Between July 2020 and October 2021, McArdle and Brindley-Walker used Facebook Marketplace and private groups to sell their counterfeit items. Trading Standards officers went undercover and made test purchases from the group. The items, ranging from trainers to perfumes, were subsequently verified by brands as being counterfeit.

Brindley-Walker, 43, of Norris Hill, Moira, was the mastermind of the racket. McArdle, 53, of High Street, Measham, played a key supporting role in maintaining orders, packaging goods, and sending parcels.

What Did Raids Reveal About Operation?

Authorities conducted searches at homes and a storage unit in Burton-on-Trent, uncovering a large quantity of counterfeit merchandise. In total, 3,558 fake items were seized, with a combined estimated value of over £46,500 based on their listed prices. Officials believe the illegal operation generated a minimum turnover of £480,000 over a 16-month period. The operation was organized and sustained, involving unsuspecting consumers who had no reason to suspect they were purchasing replicas.

Also Read: Meta Wipes 6 Lakh Predatory Accounts to Boost Teen Safety on Instagram & Facebook

Are Courts Finally Cracking Down on Online Counterfeiters?

Brindley-Walker was sentenced to two years and three months in jail, at the age of 43 on her birthday. McArdle was given a 15-month sentence, suspended for two years. Both were guilty of conspiracy to supply goods with unauthorized trademarks.

Gary Connors, Leicestershire County Council’s head of regulatory services, believes that the sentences are a clear message. “If you are selling counterfeit goods, no matter where this is taking place, even on social media, expect action. Trading Standards will take action.”

The case also brings to the forefront increasing efforts at curbing fraud, particularly as social media becomes haven for such illicit trade.

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