LoginFollow the Fake: Counterfeit Toys, Games and Electronics
Follow the Fake: Counterfeiting, the High Street and Organised Crime is a practical training programme for law enforcement and regulatory partners.
This session focuses on counterfeit toys, games and consumer electronics, exploring emerging trends, product identification, consumer safety risks and links to organised crime. It will provide practical guidance on recognising counterfeit products and highlight how brand owners and the ACG can support investigations through intelligence and operational support. In this session you will also hear from our guest speaker Natasha Mann - Western Union Global Compliance, who will share insight on money laundering and financial intelligence.
The course will cover:
- Introduction: Counterfeit Toys, Games and Consumer Electronics
- Fake toys including Disney, Marvel and Nintendo
- The viral craze - fake squishy toys
- Counterfeit Apple and Key Identifiers
- Counterfeit Sony Controllers and Key Identifiers
- Money laundering and Financial Intelligence
- Q&A
Who should attend?
This course is suitable for:
Trading Standards and Licensing professionals, Police and our wider regulatory partners, and is suitable for all levels from trainee and frontline officers to managers.
What you will learn
By the end of the session, participants will:
- Understand the economic impact of counterfeiting and the risks to consumer health and safety
- Recognise counterfeiting as a transnational crime and its links to serious and organised crime
- Understand best practice enforcement strategies against organised crime on the High Street
- Identify key trends and emerging threats across high-risk sectors
- Recognise common indicators of counterfeit products across high-risk product categories
- Understand how brand owners and ACG can support investigations and enforcement activity
- Explore examples of effective public–private sector partnerships and best practice
Our Trainers/Presenters
Matt Knowles - Intel Manager, Anti-Counterfeiting Group
Matthew Knowles joined ACG in 2022, following 16 years in Trading Standards, including roles as an Accredited Financial Investigator, Senior Investigator and Team Manager, alongside specialist IP crime work in Camden and Manchester. He holds an MSc in Counter Fraud, Counter Corruption and Intelligence. At ACG, he leads intelligence and strategic initiatives, working with law enforcement, Trading Standards and industry partners to tackle physical and online IP crime and support multi-agency enforcement.
Stephanie Allen - Director, REACT UK
Stephanie is a Director at REACT UK, having joined the organisation in 2014 as Brand Protection Manager before progressing to Director in 2018. She brings extensive experience in brand protection, intellectual property enforcement and anti-counterfeiting. Prior to joining REACT UK, Stephanie spent over three years at Cath Kidston, progressing from Brand Protection Assistant to Brand Protection Manager, developing valuable experience in protecting brands against counterfeiting and intellectual property infringement.
Ron Harrison - Managing Director, Surelock
Ron Harrison brings extensive experience across law enforcement and the private sector, with 30 years' service as a Police Officer and Detective with Scotland Yard, working on specialist squads in the UK and overseas, alongside 26 years' experience in the private sector. Ron is an active member and former President of the Association of British Investigators (ABI), as well as a member of the World Association of Detectives and the Anti-Counterfeiting Group (ACG). Under Ron's leadership, the company specialises in proactive brand protection, deploying experienced undercover and surveillance operatives to identify and disrupt counterfeiting activity. Its investigations have contributed to some of the UK's largest counterfeit goods seizures.
Briony Bolter - Director, WRi Investigations
Briony has worked at WRi for just over 12 years. Briony joined as a Brand Protection officer and has worked her way up to Director of Brand Protection leading a small, but dedicated team of brand specialists. Briony liaises with Trading Standards and Border Force daily in relation to product identification and evidential statements. She holds a key role within WRi liaising with some of our largest clients, ensuring that their expectations are met and services are delivered to the highest standard.
Nicola Borthwick - Director, Head of Global IP Enforcement, Sony Interactive Entertainment
Nicola Borthwick leads global intellectual property enforcement at Sony Interactive Entertainment, bringing extensive experience in IP strategy, litigation and brand protection. Prior to joining Sony, Nicola served as IP Counsel at Philip Morris International and held senior associate roles at Charles Russell Speechlys and Pinsent Masons, advising on complex intellectual property disputes involving trade marks, copyright, designs and trade secrets. Nicola has significant experience in contentious IP matters, including litigation before the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court, High Court and Court of Appeal, and combines her legal expertise with a strategic approach to protecting intellectual property on a global scale.
Natasha Mann - Western Union Global Compliance, Financial Intelligence Unit
Natasha Mann leads law enforcement outreach and investigations for Western Union across the UK and Ireland. With extensive experience in financial crime, fraud investigations and intelligence analysis, she has worked closely with law enforcement, intelligence agencies and government bodies on complex investigations involving terrorist financing, human trafficking, child exploitation and online crime. Her expertise includes open-source intelligence, risk assessment, evidence gathering and supporting criminal prosecutions under relevant legislation.
Session and Booking Details
Available Session:
- Date: 12 November
- Time: 10.00 - 12.15
- Rate: FREE
- Location: via MS Teams
- CPPD: 2 hours
PLEASE NOTE: By clicking on the above link, you will be taken to CTSI's Booking Portal, where you can select your session and enter your details. Our general Terms and Conditions are here.
