News Releases
Update of Countermeasures against Counterfeit Products of our Radio Communication Equipment
Putting Consumer Safety First: Over 4,500 fraudulent listings have been removed from electronic commerce (EC) sites in Asia.
Icom Incorporated (Headquarters: Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture, President & CEO: Hiroshi Nakaoka) announces that due to our continued counterfeit product countermeasures for our products (Radio communication equipment) in overseas markets, we have successfully removed over 4,500 counterfeit product listings from EC sites primarily operated in Asia.
Background and History of Counterfeit Product Countermeasures
We have taken seriously the situation where counterfeit products of our Radio communication equipment (transceivers) are being distributed in countries around the world. Since fiscal year 2024 (April 2024 - March 2025), we have strengthened crackdowns on counterfeit product listings on EC sites in collaboration with external partner companies. Following the incident involving the explosion of counterfeit products in Lebanon on 19 September 2024, we have established and are implementing a policy to further strengthen countermeasures to ensure consumer safety.
Results of Countermeasures
As a result of implementing countermeasures with a focus on the Asian market where counterfeit product distribution is particularly notable, in fiscal year 2024, we successfully identified over 4,500 counterfeit product listings on EC sites primarily operated in Asia and removed them from those sites. These countermeasures were implemented after determining this to be the highest priority area for action, given that identifying sellers on EC sites can be difficult in many cases, and that this is a market where consumers can purchase directly without going through dealers knowledgeable about radio equipment. The listings removed this time represent only a portion of the whole, and we believe that many more counterfeit products are still circulating in the EC market. Therefore, we are continuing similar measures this fiscal year as well.
Problems with Counterfeit Products and Request to Users
Counterfeit products harm the economic interests of Icom and our authorized dealers and can cause serious safety problems, as seen in the explosion of devices in Lebanon. Counterfeit products differ from genuine products and carry risks for users in the following areas:
- Inferiority in quality and grade
We have confirmed problems such as short battery life, poor call quality, low level of impact resistance, and premature deterioration of components.
- Exclusion from our after-sales service
We cannot accept repairs or maintenance for products other than those sold through authorized channels.
- Product safety
There is a possibility that strict manufacturing process management and distribution management have not been implemented.
We prioritize consumer safety above all else, so we strongly recommend that you always purchase transceivers from authorized dealers.
Future Efforts
Icom Incorporated will continue to strengthen efforts to reduce the distribution of counterfeit products. We will also continue to disseminate information and conduct awareness campaigns about the dangers of counterfeit products and the importance of purchasing genuine products through authorized channels, targeting distribution channels and consumers.