As you're doing your Christmas shopping, police are reminding you to be careful where you're going to get gifts for under the tree.
Toronto police have seized 16 truckloads of counterfeit goods that, if real, would have a retail value of $2.5-million.
The goods came from three stores, Lucky's Import and Wholesale located at 1607 The Queensway, Beach GLO at 1938 Queen St E, and Jazz Casuals at 5160 Yonge St.
Investigators held a show-and-tell at police headquarters Friday, showing off some of the products. There are toys, bottles of alcohol, make-up, sunglasses, electronics, and blenders.
Det. Rob Whalen says the products are not only fake and bad quality, they are dangerous.
He says some of the toys can break apart easliy, becoming choking hazards for children. Some cosmetics that have been seized contained urine, and consumers have complained of getting rashes. A counterfeit Magic Bullet blender started to smoke, almost catching fire, when investigators plugged it in.
Whalen says one dead giveaway that a product is fake is when it does not name the company that makes it or give any contact information.
46-year-old Hock Chan of Mississauga is now facing several charges, including fraud Over $5,000, and passing off wares.
Toronto police have seized counterfeit goods that would have a retail value of $2.5-million if real pic.twitter.com/X81Kx1k4zb
— NEWSTALK1010 (@NEWSTALK1010) December 9, 2016