CYBERPOL Issues Consumer Alert on Trademark Imposters Operating in the Balkan and Danube Regions
An original public-interest consumer alert concerning supplier verification, confusingly similar commercial identities, advance bank transfers, and European trademark protection.
CYBERPOL Issues Consumer Alert on Trademark Imposters Operating in the Balkan and Danube Regions
CYBERPOL has issued a consumer protection alert warning businesses and consumers across the Balkan and Danube regions to exercise caution when purchasing air conditioning systems, metal construction products, and container houses from companies using names that closely resemble established European brands.
The alert follows reports of businesses operating under confusingly similar names to legitimate trademark owners, potentially misleading customers into making advance bank transfers for products or services that are not associated with the genuine manufacturers.
Consumers are urged to verify suppliers directly with the official European brand owners or their authorized representatives before completing any purchase.
Among the brands receiving consumer inquiries are Metallux AG, Metalux Metallveredelung GmbH, and MasterKlima. The official company contact points are:
- Official contact 01 Metallux AG: https://www.metallux.ag/contactmetallux
- Official contact 02 Metalux Metallveredelung GmbH: https://www.metalux.de/en/company/metalux
-
Official contact 03
MasterKlima:
Official contacts and authorized service areas are published by Etex Building Performance GmbH for the Promat business unit in Germany and Austria.
CYBERPOL warns that companies operating under similar names in parts of the Balkan region are not official representatives of these manufacturers and do not provide the same products, engineering support, technical services, warranties, or after-sales assistance. Such businesses may rely on confusingly similar branding to create the false impression of affiliation with established European companies.
Consumers and businesses are encouraged to independently verify company identities before transferring funds or entering into commercial agreements.
Reporting Suspected Trademark Violations
CYBERPOL encourages trademark owners, businesses, and consumers to report suspected trademark infringement, counterfeit activity, or deceptive commercial practices to the appropriate enforcement authorities, including CYBERPOL and the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO).
The EU trademark register can be searched at:
Legal Framework
Trademark protection throughout the European Union is governed by Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 on the European Union Trade Mark (EUTMR), which grants trademark proprietors the exclusive right to prevent unauthorized commercial use of identical or confusingly similar signs.
130–139
Article 9 of the Regulation provides trademark owners with the right to prohibit unauthorized use where such use is likely to create consumer confusion or unfairly exploit the reputation of a registered trademark. Articles 130–139 establish enforcement mechanisms through designated national courts.
2004/48
Additional protection is provided under Directive 2004/48/EC (Enforcement Directive), requiring EU Member States to provide effective civil remedies, including:
- Court injunctions;
- Seizure of infringing goods;
- Destruction of counterfeit products;
- Financial damages;
- Recovery of legal costs; and
- Preservation of evidence.
608/2013
Under Regulation (EU) No. 608/2013, customs authorities are empowered to detain, seize, and destroy goods suspected of infringing intellectual property rights at European Union borders.
While EU trademark legislation primarily provides civil remedies, many Member States also classify intentional commercial trademark counterfeiting as a criminal offence under national law. Depending on the jurisdiction, penalties may include substantial fines, confiscation of counterfeit goods and production equipment, and imprisonment.
Regional Applicability
The following EU Member States apply the relevant European trademark legislation:
- Croatia
- Slovenia
- Bulgaria
- Romania
- Greece
In addition, several EU candidate and potential candidate countries have aligned, or are aligning, their trademark legislation with European intellectual property standards, including:
- Albania
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Montenegro
- North Macedonia
- Serbia
- Kosovo (under its respective legal framework)
These jurisdictions generally prohibit trademark infringement, commercial counterfeiting, and deceptive commercial practices through national trademark and criminal legislation.
Consumer Advice
Before making any payment:
- Verify the supplier through official brand contact channels.
- Confirm that the seller is an authorized distributor or representative.
- Independently verify company registration details.
- Be cautious of unusually low prices or requests for advance bank transfers.
- Report suspected fraudulent or counterfeit activity to the relevant authorities.
Legal Notice
Unauthorized reproduction, imitation, counterfeit use, or commercial use of a registered trademark—or any sign that is identical or confusingly similar to a registered trademark—without the authorization of the trademark proprietor may constitute trademark infringement. Such conduct may expose the infringing party to civil liability and, in many jurisdictions, criminal prosecution under applicable national laws implementing or complementing European intellectual property legislation.
