By The Eye desk · Last verified 28 September 2026

Under Singapore’s Trade Marks Act, importing, selling or distributing goods with falsely applied trademarks is a criminal offence. So is possessing them for the purpose of trade. The penalty is a fine of up to S$10,000 per item, capped at S$100,000, up to five years in jail, or both. The law is aimed at trade, not at shoppers, but Singapore Customs can seize suspected fakes at the border. Anyone who buys one gets no protection if it turns out badly.

Quick facts

• Importing, selling or distributing counterfeits for trade is a crime.
• Fines reach S$10,000 per item, up to S$100,000 in total.
• Jail terms can be up to five years.
• Customs can seize suspected fakes at the border.
• Brand owners can also sue for damages.
• Police raids regularly seize thousands of items.

What does the law make a crime?

The Trade Marks Act makes it an offence to counterfeit a registered trademark, to falsely apply one to goods, or to make or possess tools for counterfeiting. Importing or selling goods with a falsely applied trademark, or possessing them for trade, is also an offence. The penalty is a fine of up to S$10,000 for each item, capped at S$100,000, up to five years in jail, or both. Company directors can be liable too if the offence was committed with their consent.

What happens at the border?

Singapore Customs can seize suspected counterfeit goods coming in or going out, either at a brand owner’s request or on its own initiative. Brand owners can also bring private criminal prosecutions, or sue for damages and to stop the trade.

Is it enforced?

Yes, regularly. In August 2024, police seized more than 14,200 pieces of suspected fake apparel, with an estimated street value of over S$142,000, in raids in Bukit Batok. In June 2025, acting on a Customs referral, they seized nearly 500 fake handbags and wallets being sold at makeshift stalls.

What does this mean for shoppers?

The offences are aimed at people who import, sell or deal in fakes. But a shopper who buys one has no brand warranty, no after-sales service, and little recourse if it’s faulty or unsafe. Fake cosmetics, perfumes and electronics can be a safety risk as well as a waste of money. And if you resell a fake, even second-hand online, you’re in the territory the law targets.

The WahLiao Verdict

A fake is a bet that nobody checks: not Customs, not the buyer you might sell it to, and not your own eye in five years. Buy the real thing second-hand from a seller who authenticates, or buy something honest at your budget.

Questions people ask

Can I sell a fake bag I bought on holiday?

Selling goods with a falsely applied trademark is an offence. Don’t.

Can Customs take a fake from my luggage?

Customs has powers to seize suspected counterfeit goods at the border.

How do I report a seller of fakes?

Tell the brand owner, the platform the seller uses, or the police.

Is a “dupe” the same as a fake?

Not if it carries its own name. The offences concern falsely applied trademarks; a product that copies a look under its own brand is a different matter.

Sources: Singapore Police Force, August 2024 seizure and June 2025 arrest; World Trademark Review on anti-counterfeiting in Singapore; Japan Patent Office seminar on Singapore enforcement. This is general information, not legal advice.

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