31st May 2023 – (Hong Kong) Hong Kong Customs officials have arrested a 32-year-old man who is believed to be the owner of an online toy shop for allegedly violating the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO). The man is suspected of wrongly accepting payments for toy models sold at his online shop and failing to supply the products to customers within a reasonable period after the payment was made. Instead, the customers were left without the products or any refund. The case came to light after multiple reports were filed by customers who had ordered a bear-shaped brick-style figurine from the online shop, but had not received the product within the specified timeframe.
Customs officials have been investigating the case and have taken the online toy shop owner into custody. The man has been released on bail while the investigation continues. A total of 12 customers and 27 figurines were involved in the reports, and the investigation is ongoing.
Customs officials have been working to combat illegal online sales activities and unfair trade practices to protect the interests of consumers. Under the TDO, any trader who accepts payment for a product and then fails to supply the product within a reasonable period or supplies a materially different product can be charged with an offence. The maximum penalty for such an offence is a fine of HK$500,000 and imprisonment for up to five years.