TAIPEI (Taiwan Taiwan News) — Angry companies selling nutritional supplements located in Taiwan have expressed their concern about the sale of fake products on the internet that not only affects profits for companies but puts the health of consumers at risk.
Fake fan sites and shopping websites, typically with only one page, have become the primary source of these frauds. Customers are enticed to buy cheaper counterfeits of a variety of authentic goods.
This is so serious that some industry experts have stated that cyber-crime in Taiwan is entirely out of control and in a situation in “anarchy,” per Newstalk.
Real (left) and fake weider probiotic product . (Weider website screenshot )
This U.S. brand has established a reputation for itself in Taiwan with its probiotic supplements. Over the last half a year, the brand has received numerous complaints about Weider products sold online being “substandard” and were later proven to be counterfeited. The most alarming aspect is the marketing of cloned versions of nutritional supplements, which Weider has identified.
The company is warning consumers to avoid false discounts such as “buy one, get one for free,” and to avoid purchasing supplements from sources that are not reliable. The company warned that long-term use of these supplements could have serious health risks.
The issue has been around for a long time but isn’t being addressed, Weider said, adding the international and local brands are equally vulnerable to counterfeiting as long as they’re famous. Weider wants the authorities to take on a more proactive approach to reducing the selling of counterfeit goods.
