Two weeks ago, five men were jailed for a total of 29 years following an investigation by the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA). It is the latest in a line of counterfeiting cases to be reported on in these pages in recent years, involving everything from money to passports.

So, have tougher economic conditions driven more people to turn to the ‘dark side’ of print? Probably not. Far more likely is that counterfeiting is generating a higher profile thanks to a Metropolitan Police project called Project Genesius (Saint Genesius is the patron saint of, among other things, printers and lawyers). The project was created in 2007 and it’s no coincidence that arrests and convictions have spiked since that time, with a corresponding increase in the number of fake Bank of England banknotes taken out of circulation.

Closer ties
The objective of the project was to form a working relationship between law enforcement agencies and the print industry. Since its inception, the Genesius team has been trying to reach as many sectors of the industry as possible to highlight what types of activities and purchases they should be looking out for.

As well as advice on the giveaway signs of a counterfeiting operation (see below), Genesius also offers a contact for those who suspect somebody may be attempting to buy goods with criminal activity in mind.

Although it is mainly aimed at stopping the supply of equipment used to produce counterfeit products, it is possible for other areas of print to be caught out, trade finishers offering laminating and embossing services for instance.

The Rubber Stamp Manufacturers Guild (RSMG), which is part of the British Office Supplies and Services (BOSS) Federation, part of the BPIF, is a member of the project. BOSS general manager Philippa Morrell said: "There is no fee to join Project Genesius, so in 2008 the decision was taken that all RSMG members must sign up to the project. Our members are given details of things that should raise suspicion, for instance people wanting to collect items or paying in cash. If somebody isn’t sure, they can let the police know and they’ll undertake further investigations. We actually find that the honest people don’t mind being checked out, they would rather something was being done about counterfeiters."

Karen Kinger, prevention and relations manager at Project Genesius, says: "People may go into a print shop and ask them to buy an ID card printer from a reseller for them, or perhaps particular inks or even card for passports. The reseller may know about Project Genesius, but often the printer won’t. High-street printers should be aware of anyone making these requests."

As Genesius’s profile has grown, so too has the quality of the output from the counterfeiters. In fact, the similarities with the rest of the print industry are there for all to see. A statement from SOCA stated: "The counterfeit currency market has changed over the past 10 years. While there are printers who still use traditional offset lithographic methods, organised groups are also producing digitally printed counterfeits using laser or inkjet printing techniques."

It is easy to be blasé when offered work, especially in times of financial difficulties. At the end of the day, a job is a job. One anecdote recalls a finisher on the Isle of Wight who was embossing work regularly for a customer. He was asked to emboss thin strips of foil onto sheets which would be cut out into shapes about the size of a £5 note. No prizes for guessing what was happening once the sheets were delivered.

Under suspicion
However, even large equipment manufacturers can get caught out by the counterfeiters. One press salesman recalls: "I was trying to sell to a company in north London; we were actually at the point where we were trying to finalise finance. Then one evening I switched on the news to see the company I had been selling to had been raided for printing fake cash. Not sure why they needed finance in the first place really!"

Joking aside, it seems nobody is safe from the counterfeiters. Whether you are supplying paper, machines or finishing services, you could be aiding a criminal. And while many people think that print doesn’t pay anymore, one thing’s clear, as illustrated by the recent convictions, crime definitely doesn’t.

HOW TO SPOT A DODGY CUSTOMER
General indicators
• Cash purchase
• Email address from a no-cost supplier such as Hotmail or Gmail
• No invoice required
• Requires goods immediately
• No company name or headed paper
• Unwilling to supply address
• Personal collection
• Only gives a mobile number as contact
• Doesn’t question the price
• Unusual demeanour

Action to take
• Check addresses and phone numbers tally
• Check for a company website
• Check for addresses of houses being given for delivery
• Carry out a credit reference
• Check the FSA register
• Carry out a Companies House check
• Check Google Earth or Street View for an aerial view of the address

Contact
Project Genesius 020 8785 8147