HP cracks down on counterfeit toner in Uganda

HP and the Ugandan authorities have taken down two prominent retailers selling counterfeit HP print cartridges in the Kampala area.

The operation – carried out in August 2018 – was carried out by Ugandan officials and involved raids on several premises, including outlet stores and a hidden manufacturing site for fakes. As a result, the authorities seized over 18,000 ready-for-sale illicit print cartridges.

Glenn Jones, head of HP’s global anti-counterfeiting program for investigations and enforcement operations, said that the company “commends the cooperation and swift action of Ugandan officials and their determination to apprehend and prosecute counterfeiters who break the law.”

“We are proud of our continued work to bring counterfeiters to justice, not only in Africa but throughout the world,” he added.

Over the last five years, approximately 12m counterfeit HP cartridges and components have been seized by local authorities across the Europe, Middle East and Africa, says HP, which has conducted over 4,500 audits and inspections of partners’ stocks or suspicious deliveries for customers.

Earlier this year, HP collaborated with the authorities in United Arab Emirates (UAE) to conduct raids on premises across the region, including outlet stores, clandestine workshops, and hidden warehouses, and resulted in the seizure of 35,400 illicit print components as well as 1,200 ready-for-sale counterfeit toner cartridges.

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The toner and printing supply market has been a perennial target for counterfeiters because prices for brand-name print consumables tend to be high and there is a temptation to cut recurring costs by seeking out lower-priced, discounted supplies.

HP and other print supply manufacturers warn that using fake products can result in shoddy printing results, damage printers, and invalidate warranties, but spotting counterfeits is becoming increasingly difficult.

The company uses security labels on its products which include holographic features as well as human-readable, linear and QR codes that can be scanned and validated using a smartphone or HP’s website.