Home
World
Canada
- BC
- Calgary
- Edmonton
- Saskatchewan
- Manitoba
- Thunder Bay
- Sudbury
- Windsor
- Toronto
- Ottawa
- Montreal
- NB
- PEI
- NS
- NL
- North
Politics
Health
Arts & Entertainment
- Music
- Film
- Television
- Books
- Media
- Art & Design
- Theatre
Technology & Science
Money
Consumer Life
Diversions
Weather
Your Voice

Knockoff hairstyling irons have no safety approval

Last Updated: Wednesday, November 25, 2009 | 3:56 PM MT

CBC News

Regina RCMP seized about 300 fake hairstyling irons last week. (RCMP)

Counterfeit ceramic hairstyling irons sold in Calgary may cause a fire or cause serious injury to anyone using them, RCMP warned.

RCMP officers in Calgary have seized two knockoff CHI ceramic hairstyling irons, but they believe up to 600 of the counterfeit products have been sold at financial institutes, smaller hair salons and insurance outlets in the city and across southern Alberta.

Last week, RCMP in Regina seized 300 counterfeit fake CHI irons in pink and black boxes. Employees at a school there got suspicious of the low selling price and called police, who arrested a 23-year-old man from Medicine Hat, Alta.

The accused in that seizure is also suspected in the Calgary scam, said police on Wednesday.

The high-end irons from a legitimate distributor sell for about $150. The counterfeit products were being sold for as low as $34.95 in Calgary and between $59.95 and $64.95 in Regina.

The knockoffs don't have Canadian safety standards approval and can be a potential fire hazard, or could fail and seriously hurt someone, said police.

The two irons seized in Calgary were the CHI Pink Dazzle Limited Edition Flat Iron, which is red and comes in a pink cardboard box, as well as the CHI, which is black, and comes in a predominantly black cardboard box.

Internal Links

Fake hairstyling irons pop up in Regina
$5M in fake luxury items seized in Calgary
Calgary college on alert for fake parking passes

Your Vote

Would you buy a knock-off product, such as software, purses or clothing?(polls)

Edmonton Headlines

U of A to reach out to troubled students: Students and staff at the University of Alberta will soon be encouraged to report others who may have mental health issues that could pose a risk to campus safety.
New ridings to protect rural areas: Stelmach: Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach admits his government decided to add more ridings to the electoral map to maintain the number of rural ridings in the province.
First Nations refinery plan gets mixed reaction: A proposal by Alberta First Nations to build and operate their own upgrader and refinery could be good news for gas stations and consumers, according to Canada's largest independent fuel supplier.
New avalanche warning system unveiled: The federal government has launched a new avalanche warning system, four days after two snowmobilers died in a B.C. slide.
Temporary foreign workers treated poorly, NDP charges: Almost three-quarters of employers of temporary foreign workers inspected by the province last year violated employment standards, according to documents released Wednesday by the Alberta NDP.

Canada Headlines

Tories widen poll lead over Liberals: A new poll suggests the Conservatives have widened their lead over the Liberals even as fewer Canadians believe the government is headed in the right direction.
Afghan documents debate heats up: Opposition MPs are calling on the House Speaker to rule that the government violated parliamentary privilege in refusing to hand over uncensored documents on the transfer of Afghan detainees.
Hospital thieves 'predators': security chief: Toronto police are searching for two thieves who stole jewelry from the hospital bedside of an elderly dying woman.
Tougher repatriation for convicts, Tories propose: The Conservative government has reintroduced legislation that could make it more difficult to repatriate Canadians who have been convicted of crimes in other countries.
Cameras coming to B.C. courtrooms: Cameras could soon be broadcasting trials from B.C. courtrooms, if the province's attorney general gets his way.

People who read this also read …

Top CBCNews.ca Headlines

Headlines

Afghan documents debate heats up: Opposition MPs are calling on the House Speaker to rule that the government violated parliamentary privilege in refusing to hand over uncensored documents on the transfer of Afghan detainees.
UN rejects Atlantic bluefin tuna ban: A U.S.-backed proposal to ban the export of Atlantic bluefin tuna, prized in sushi, has been rejected by a UN wildlife meeting.
Greek PM calls for firm EU rescue plan: Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou calls for a firmer bailout plan from the European Union in order to ease market pressure on his country and lower its borrowing rates.
Tories widen poll lead over Liberals: A new poll suggests the Conservatives have widened their lead over the Liberals even as fewer Canadians believe the government is headed in the right direction.
Red Cross tsunami workers abused: Some construction workers hired by the Canadian Red Cross to help rebuild communities following the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami were left stranded and never paid for their work, according to an investigation by Radio-Canada.