ESSEX Trading Standards officers are warning people not to buy mobile phones from pubs or market stalls after they seized £35,000-worth of fake phones and accessories.

A selection of 68 counterfeit Samsung Galaxy phones and accessories were found at a parcel hub in the west of the county yesterday, following a tip-off to Trading Standards.

Officers fear that some handsets may have already been sold for cash and are warning the public to only buy mobile phones from reputable sources.

Councillor Roger Walters, Essex County Council Trading Standards lead, said: “Our advice is that people should never hand over cash to people selling mobile phones in the pub or on a market.

“You should also be very careful when buying mobile phones from internet trading sites such as E-bay. You never know whether the phones are the real thing or if they’ve been stolen. They don’t come with any guarantees either.

“They may seem like a bargain at the time, but that’s not the case when they go wrong.”

Essex Trading Standards will now start an investigation to find out where the phones come from and who they belong to.

Anyone with information, who thinks they may have been offered one of the phones or fears they may have bought one should contact Citizens Advice Consumer Service 03454 04 05 06 who can provide advice and pass details on to Trading Standards.