Fraudsters caught off Balance

THE REAL DEAL: Garth Mackie from Coopers Surf shows off an original wristband.

Bruce Thomas

FRAUDSTERS have been caught out trying to sell fake Power Balance wristbands in Coffs Harbour.

The bands are designed to enhance athletic performance and two men tried to sell some counterfeits to Coopers Surf Australia on Tuesday.

But the manager of the Coopers Jetty store, Garth Mackie, was too good for the con men.

“I informed them the wristbands were already supplied to me by Power Balance Australia,” Mr Mackie said.

“They said they were up from Sydney for the university games and were authorised to sell at the games and were checking with retailers to see if they wanted any.

“I was suspicious because Power Balance contacted us months ago to say there were some fake ones out there and we should be on guard.

“I asked the two fellas further questions as to who authorised them to sell them and where they got them – they told me they got them from China and they were selling them for a friend.”

Mr Mackie contacted a Power Balance representative in Queensland who told him no-one from the company was authorised to be selling at the university games.

The duo had by this stage left his store but he confronted them in the car park to ask more questions.

“They acted suspiciously and wouldn’t give me a business card, their surnames (they’d given their first names as Shane and Tom) or a mobile phone to contact,” Mr Mackie said.

The pair drove off in a hurry in their black Jeep Cherokee.

Police are now investigating the matter.

Mr Mackie said as far as he was aware, the wristbands are only available locally at Coopers stores and at Fishing Tackle Australia.

“They are sold only through distributors, which is Power Balance Australia,” he said.

If you were approached by the men, contact Coffs Harbour police on 6652 0299 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Wristbands are made to enhance performance

THE Power Balance wristbands, which retail for $60, are widely used in the sporting world in a bid to boost performance.

The company says Power Balance is performance technology designed to ‘work with your body’s natural energy field’.

“Founded by athletes, Power Balance is a favourite among elite athletes for whom balance, strength and flexibility are important,” the company’s website says.

“Power Balance is based on the idea of optimising the body’s natural energy flow, similar to concepts behind many Eastern philosophies. The hologram in Power Balance is designed to resonate with and respond to the natural energy field of the body.”