MANILA - The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) today warned the public against buying or selling fake gift certificates for Monterey Meatshop.
In a statement, the DTI said San Miguel Foods Inc has reported “an irregular influx in the redemption of gift checks, which upon verification were found to be counterfeit,” especially in Monterey Meatshop stores in Quezon City.
According to San Miguel Foods, a consumer is holding a fake Monterey gift certificate if:
- The series numbers indicated at the bottom right of the counterfeit gift checks are not within the official series numbers released to the market;
- The series numbers of the counterfeit gift checks were manually stamped resulting in an uneven, misplaced and smudged impression. The original bear clear, clean, evenly spaced printed numbers that are slightly pressed onto the paper allowing one to feel a shallow indent in the numbers when touched;
- The appearance of the last digit on the counterfeit gift check is either altered or distinctly different than the rest of the numbers. Where the last number has the same print type (font), the impression is significantly darker than the other numbers in the series; and
- Some counterfeit gift check samples were found to have smooth paper surfaces. The original checks are printed on embossed paper that is textured on both sides.
Amid the proliferation of fakes, San Miguel Foods has “temporarily suspended redemption of said gift checks in all Monterey Neighborhood Meatshop outlets nationwide,” the DTI said.
San Miguel Foods is advising costumers with authentic gift certificates to redeem these at the Monterey Meatshop outlet in Farmers Plaza, Cubao so that the company may “properly validate authenticity of the gift checks.”
“Consumers who would like to redeem their gift certificates in any Monterey Meatshop outside of the Cubao area are requested to register their name and contact number with the outlet cashier so that the company can update them on the resumption of redemption via mobile text blast or e-mail,” the DTI added.
San Miguel Foods has also disseminated information on how to detect counterfeit gift certificates to its meat shop franchisees.
“The public is enjoined to be vigilant and to report to the authorities information on individuals or firms responsible for these fraudulent and unconscionable practices,” the DTI said.
Last year, the DTI ordered the removal of expiry dates on gift certificates. Retailers had warned the government that gift checks should have expiration so that the security features may be regularly updated to avoid counterfeiting.
Source: InterAksyon.com
By: Ben Arnold O. De Vera
Published: August 16, 2013