Following an incident that happened on Tuesday, it is clear that many Kenyans have been robbed off their hard-earned money while purchasing phones.
Retailers have adopted a means to deceive their clients by branding counterfeit phones with quality brands.
Over Ksh.1 million worth counterfeit of mobile devices were seized on Tuesday by the Anti-Counterfeit Agency in Nairobi.
The raid targeting small scale retailers along Tom Mboya Street netted mostly counterfeited Samsung phones
According to Peter Mutula, Anti-illicit trade Agency, Samsung Brand Protector, the importation web flooding the market with the counterfeit products has recently evolved following government’s multi agency approach to illicit trade.
“Alongside the importation there’s a package of counterfeit accessories that is back covers, the battery wrappers even the screen guards bearing the Samsung logo. When now these other brand names are removed or they take the Samsung stickers and stick on top of those other brands then giving the phone the appearance of the Samsung phone,” said Mutula.
“We make arrest on the people who are offering the phones for sale. Whoever is found handing these gadgets is the one we are arresting.”
The web it added ensures products bear a consistent brand name that can only be detected at the retail level.
Currently Kenya loses up to Ksh.300 billion to illicit trade.