Police make arrests after overly aggressive sales tactics selling fake perfumes in Sefton

Following complaints of overly aggressive sales tactics by men pedalling cheap perfumes in Southport town centre, a number of men have been stopped by Southport Local Policing Team officers and three teenagers were arrested.

Complaints involved these men trying to force people shopping in Chapel Street to go to cash points and take out cash to buy these products, that they were offering for cheap prices.

A spokesperson from Merseyside police said: “On the 20th July, PCSO's responded to complaints from members of the public of two men trying to sell perfumes in this manner. The two men were stopped on Scarisbrick Street, but had no such items with them. Their details were verified at the roadside. Shortly after, five bottles of perfumes were found in a carrier bag dumped over a a wall nearby.”

“On the 27th July, Police Officers arrested three teenagers at Southport Railway Station, aged 14, 15 and 17 from Queensferry, on suspicion of fraud and fair evasion on the railway, having been found in possession of counterfeit perfumes.”

“When tested, the perfumes were confirmed to be fake. Among the agents contained in the mixture, urine had been used as a stabilising agent.”

“The three teenagers were released under investigation.”

“If something seems too good to be true, it probably is.”