Potentially dangerous counterfeit Nintendo DS systems, bought for cheap at Asian websites, could cause harm to consumers.
Parents should be especially careful this holiday season because they may accidentally purchase a counterfeit DS Lite. In the United Kingdom, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has reported that they have intercepted a large number of phony Nintendo DS and DS Lite consoles. Not only did Nintendo confirm that the systems were counterfeit but that they were also coupled with power adapters that were not Nintendo-manufactured. Such power adapters may not have been properly tested for safety and could potentially cause great harm to users.
Many of the fake game systems had been purchased at bargain prices from Asian websites which had claimed that they were "genuine Nintendo products." HMRC's Pamela Rogers implored consumers to "buy from a reputable or regulated site." Mike Rawlinson, Managing Director for the UK's Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association (ELSPA) also advised caution despite the holiday rush. "We are asking all concerned parents to be diligent," he commented, "often when a bargain seems too good to be true it actually is."