Beyond designer bag busts: Singapore’s counterfeit problem is bigger than luxury goods
The real threat is whether Singaporean consumers are aware of what they’re buying
WHEN the Singapore Police Force arrested two women in early October 2025 for selling counterfeit luxury goods worth over S$42,000, it marked the latest in a troubling trend. Earlier in August, four individuals were caught with over 1,100 counterfeit items worth S$99,000.
Counterfeit goods are flowing into Singapore at an accelerating rate, primarily through online channels. But here’s what these headlines miss: The luxury handbags and wallets seized in these raids are merely the visible tip of a far more dangerous iceberg.
The misconception of “safe” counterfeits
Most Singaporeans, if they think about counterfeiting at all, picture it as a victimless crime involving designer goods. Buy a fake Gucci bag at a discount? The worst outcome is embarrassment when someone notices. This thinking is dangerously outdated.
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