96% customers feel protected from falling victims to fraudsters- HP Survey

A multinational information technology company, HP,  says its recent survey in EMEA shows that 96 per cent of customers feel protected from falling victim to fraudsters.

It also said that over 97 per cent of customers see Customer Delivery Inspections (CDIs) as a valuable service for their business.

The company, in a statement made available to newsmen, said that this was part of the outcomes of a survey it carried out.

According to the statement, the Customer Delivery Inspections, which are a free and effective feature of HP’s Anti-Counterfeit and Fraud (ACF) programme, offer customers a reliable way to confirm the authenticity of their stocks.

“They involve on-site checks of suspicious large or mid-sized cartridge deliveries in response to reports initiated by HP customers.

“If dubious deliveries are found, the HP ACF Team are proactively alerted, and can follow up with appropriate action.

“Amid the COVID-19 disruption, HP has also offered photo-based CDIs, if circumstances do not allow for an on-site visit,” it said.

The statement said the survey also discovered that 60 per cent of customers planned to take steps to purchase safely in future, directly following with the HP CDI guidance.

“As a result, 98 per cent of customers surveyed would recommend HP CDIs to other customers.

“At HP, we are incredibly proud of the positive feedback our customers have given in response to our Customer Delivery Inspections.

“Unlike counterfeit goods, HP Originals are designed to meet our strict quality and reliable standards and to deliver superb performance and consistent results.

“Our high standards go beyond our products.

“With our survey finding that 91 per cent of surveyed customers believe counterfeits present a risk to their business.

“It is important that we continue to fight fraudulent activity and ensure our customers have access to a reliable source of information, and advice so that they have a peace of mind when buying HP products.

“With this in mind, HP maintains its commitment to protect customers through our Anti-Counterfeit and Fraud programme, as shown by our quick action to adapt CDIs in response to the COVID-19 outbreak,” Suanne Schoewitz-Franchi, Global Lead of Supplies Anti-Counterfeit and Fraud Programme, said.

In the statement, the survey showed that across EMEA over the last five years, HP had supported local law enforcement authorities to seize around 12.5 million items, including counterfeit cartridges, hardware products, and components.

It said that most recently, between October 2019 to March 2020, HP, together with local authorities in Kenya, Nigeria and Tanzania,  successfully obstructed a number of counterfeit trading programmes.

“It also removed close to 200,000 illicit products from the African region, including fake HP printer cartridges and components to assemble further counterfeits.

“HP is dedicated to empowering channel partners, customers, and enforcement authority representatives with the knowledge to identify fraudulent supplies and protect business.

“In EMEA, close to 7,000 stakeholders have attended HP’s dedicate Education and Prevention activities.

“The company also cooperates closely with local and global law enforcement authorities to detect and dismantle illegal operations that produce counterfeit HP printing components,” the statement said.