Published: 11th March 2026

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More than 22,000 counterfeit Dyson products and 30,000 fake accessories have been seized in a large co-ordinated enforcement action across factories in south China. 

The fake Dyson products were destined for markets all over the world, including Germany, the broader EU, the UK, USA and Gulf states. It is the largest enforcement action in the history of Dyson’s anti-counterfeiting programme, which acts to protect consumers from the dangers of counterfeits and dupes.

Thirty people suspected of involvement in criminal activity were arrested by the authorities across 22 locations in Guangdong Province. Guangdong is a major global manufacturing centre where enforcement agencies have a strong focus on protecting intellectual property and ensuring product safety.

The enforcement action, which is revealed today for the first time, took place on 19th January and was carried out by the Dongguan Public Security Bureau, with support from Dyson on the ground in one of its most dynamic markets. 

The 22,000 finished fake products included counterfeit Dyson Supersonic hair dryers, Airwrap multi-stylers and vacuum cleaners. The successful seizure of these products and components will protect consumers from the harms posed by counterfeit electronics, not just in China but around the world.

Officials also discovered more than a quarter of a million examples of fake Dyson packaging material, designed to make the products in question look like the real deal. They took control of 36 machines used in the production of the counterfeits.

Protecting consumers from counterfeit and dupe products is a constant global effort for Dyson. In the last six months alone, Dyson’s partnership with law enforcement bodies has led to customs officials in Europe confiscating thousands of counterfeit and dupe Dyson products, including a significant portion that were en route to Germany. 

Dyson invests heavily in monitoring online marketplaces, using live data and new tools to respond to those who continually try to avoid detection. Rather than focusing on raw takedown numbers, Dyson measures success by real-world impact: assessing how often consumers encounter fakes when searching for Dyson products and keeping that number as low as possible. This approach helps ensure fewer consumers encounter dangerous fakes in the first place. At the same time, Dyson works closely with major online marketplaces to stop fake products from ever going live. 

• Buy directly from Dyson.com or from trusted retailers. 

• Verify who the seller actually is – check you can identify and contact the seller at their place of business in case something goes wrong.  Counterfeit sellers either don’t provide information or will disappear after purchase.

• Beware of prices that seem too good to be true.  

• Look closely at seller/listing reviews. Some might indicate the seller has sold fake goods in the past. Be cautious of sellers with a limited sales history.  

• Counterfeit sellers often give assurances that products can be registered online or say that their products are covered by Dyson’s product warranty. Some sellers even offer to provide (fake) proof of purchase. These are not a guarantee of authenticity.

• Be wary of sales completed via private messages, unofficial links or unusual payment methods.

• If something doesn’t look right, pause before you buy and compare the product, seller and price with Dyson’s official channels. 

Counterfeiters go to great lengths to make sure their machines look as genuine as possible. They are very difficult to spot, because they appear nearly the same as a genuine Dyson machine – including their packaging, logos and use of official-looking serial numbers. Some common things to check, which might indicate you have purchased a counterfeit include: 
 

• Poor quality manufacturing finish (for example, uneven/misapplied logos or uneven joins in materials).

• Poor quality packaging materials. 

• Typos on the product, the packaging or the documents in the packaging. 

• Unlike genuine Dyson machines, counterfeits often emit a strong or unusual chemical smell, particularly when first unpacked and used.