Fake tobacco
Fake cigarettes and tobacco are made by criminals and often contain excessive levels of tar, nicotine and chemicals.
Fake fags are usually sold in packaging that looks like that of well-known brands. Don’t be fooled - tests have found fake tobacco products that contained rat poo, sawdust and insects.
Furthermore, because fake cigarettes are often sold on the sly, it’s harder for police to ensure the under-18s are protected.
How to spot fake fags:
Because counterfeit tobacco products are often packaged to resemble legitimate brands, it can be difficult to tell the genuine from the fake. Looking out for the below can help you make the distinction.
Fake cigarettes and tobacco:
- Often taste different to products made by genuine brands.
- Might be sold in boxes that feature spelling or grammatical mistakes.
- Might be sold in packets that feature misspelt, foreign or no safety warnings. The safety warning on genuine packets will always have a clear, white background.
- Are often sold in packaging that’s been made by hand so the paper and glue used might be noticeably inferior.
- Often feature poor print quality.
Visit the Get Some Answers website to see examples of real and fake fag packets.
Where fake fags are sold:
Fake cigarettes and tobacco are sold at a variety of locations including:
- On the street
- At private houses
- From vans
- At pubs and clubs
- At betting shops
- At car boot sales
- In tanning salons
- In workplaces
A man in the North West was even found to be selling kids fake fags from his ice cream van.
If you know someone dealing in fakes there is something you can do about it – call the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or pass on information to us through our secure online form.