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Jeremy Blum

China is widely known for producing fake watches, handbags and jewellery, and the most recent example of the country tip-toeing around intellectual property trademarks revolves around Goldman Sachs (Shenzhen) Financial Leasing Company, a group completely unaffiliated with the widely-known New York-based financial institution. 
But while 'borrowing' the name of an overseas bank might be a new tactic, developing quirky fakes has long been China's forte. Here are a few of the more egregious and creative examples to come out of the mainland over the past three years. 
Fake calculators

In the age of the smartphone, calculators are no longer as ubiquitous as they once were. This didn't stop a Guangdong counterfeiting ring from producing over 80,000 fake Casio and Citizen calculators in 2013, instigating a massive police bust where over 100 suspects were arrested. 
Fake vitamins

In June 2013 the Hong Kong Department of Health urged locals to avoid a Shenzhen-produced oral tablet named Vitamin C Yin Qiao Pian, which is normally used to cure fevers and colds. A knock-off version of the drug had found its way into Hong Kong and contained banned ingredients known for dangerous side effects, including the development of cancer. 
Fake Starbucks

An entire "street of fakes" popped up in the southern mainland city Wuxi in 2014, featuring placeholder signs with modified names of well-known international brands. The most eye-catching sign, which quickly went viral online for its unconventional name, was "Sffcccks Coffee".
Fake iWatches

Coming once again from Shenzhen, cheap iWatch clones hit the market right ahead of Apple's official smartwatch release in April 2015. Many of the lookalikes were made by Zeaplus and Zhimeide, two mainland companies specialising in Android-based wristwear. 
Fake salt

A ring of counterfeiters were doing big business last month until local authorities seized 20,000 tones of industrial grade salt that was being sold as regular table salt throughout Beijing, Henan, Shandong, Jiangsu, Anhui, Hebei and Tianjin. Over twenty suspects were arrested. 
Fake blood

Even blood cannot escape Chinese counterfeiting! In early July, Shaanxi authorities discovered that a man was adding formaldehyde to barrels of congealed blood and selling the mixture as a gourmet delicacy. Traditionally, congealed duck blood is consumed all across China, but the culprit used cheaper cow and sheep's blood instead of the real deal. 
Fake Air Jordans 

In late July, American basketball superstar Michael Jordan lost a case against Qiaodan Sports, a Chinese company that produces goods featuring the image of a jumping basketball player - heavily reminiscent of the logo used by Jordan on his Nike Air Jordan sneakers.
Fake police station

A man in Wuhan, Hubei province, took the phrase "take the law into your own hands" one step too far when he turned his home into a fake police station, where scammed money from people in trouble. The house came complete with an "interrogation room" and law enforcement gear like uniforms, stun guns and handcuffs. His ruse unravelled when a disgruntled ex-girlfriend reported him to the real police.
Fake weed

Most recently, synthetic marijuana imported to the United States from China has caused a ruckus with American health officials. While the drug resembles real pot, it has been known to deliver a lethal high from chemical compounds that can also cause panic attacks and psychotic hallucinations. 
Fake Apple store

A fake Apple Store was discovered to be operating in Kunming in 2011 - a store so flawlessly Apple-like, as a Reuters report described it, that even its employees believed it was the real deal. The shop was brought to the world's attention by an American blogger living in the Chinese city. It had all the details - the logo, wooden tables and cheery staff. What gave it away, however, were the substandard furnishings (upon closer inspection) and the spelling mistake in the shop's sign: "Apple Stoer." Chinese authorities eventually found 22 fake Apple shops operating in the city and shut them all down.


After Goldman Sachs is pirated, here are 10 of China's most audacious fakes

Just a sampling of China's most recent fake products. Photo: SCMP Pictures

Confiscated counterfeit calculators at a Heyuan City press conference. Photo: Screenshot via Sina Weibo

A bottle of Vitamin C Yin Qiao Pian. The medicine is normally used to cure colds and fevers. Photo: Screenshot via Hong Kong Department of Health

It looks like Starbucks from a distance, but upon closer inspection, something is very off here. Photo: Chinanews.com

The Zeaplus Watch strongly resembles the Apple Watch. Photo: SCMP Pictures

Police found that the “fake salt” was mostly sold to smaller supermarkets and food stores, plus small restaurants in rural and suburban areas. Photo: SCMP Pictures

Congealed blood made by the suspect. Photo: SCMP Pictures

Qiodan shoes featuring a logo similar to Jordan's 'Jumpman'. Photo: AFP

Seized "fake weed", which sometimes goes by many names - including K2, Spice, Bizarro, Scooby Snax, Kryp2nite and Stoopid. Photo: AP

Officers found police uniforms, handcuffs and stun guns, among other items in his home. Photo: Rmrbapi.people.cn

The fake Apple store nearly fooled everyone, except an eagle-eyed expat who wrote about it on her blog. Photo: Reuters

Heard of China’s fake handbags and Rolexes? Now there’s a fake Goldman Sachs operating in Shenzhen

A Goldman Sachs Group logo hangs on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange in New York. Photo: Bloomberg

Goldman Sachs (Shenzhen) Financial Leasing Company has been operating in the city just across the border from Hong Kong. Photo: Xinhua

Attack of the clones: Xiaomi and Samsung biggest victims of China’s market for fake smartphones

Xiaomi's Mi 4i smartphone on display in Hong Kong in May. Antutu found that over a third of counterfeit smartphones using its site were imitation Xiaomi models. Photo: Dickson Lee

Among all smartphone brands, Samsung was the second hardest hit. Photo: Reuters

Bogus cop in China worked from a fake police station at home

Rooms in Lei's home were decorated to resemble a police station. Photo: Rmrbapi.people.cn

News

China

People & Culture

Pirating luxury goods is one thing, but China's penchant for elaborate fakes extends far beyond the norm


While 'borrowing' the name of an overseas bank might be a new tactic, developing quirky fakes has long been China's forte. Here are a few of the more egregious and creative examples over the last three years. 
