WARNING: Global Barcodes

Global Barcodes is a Scam

Global Barcodes is a SCAM operating in a variety of different countries under a variety of names. We have detailed the websites we know of that are run by them at the bottom of this page. They are run by the same people as the Barcodes Shop sites.

  • The Issues:

    • False and illegal statements on their websites – The Barcodes Shop represents that they sell barcodes that come directly from GS1 with country codes from a variety of different countries including the UK (50) as well as a whole bunch of other countries. While they are supplying these ’50’ numbers, it is illegal for them to be doing this, and it goes against the GS1 license agreements. There have been complaints that have been upheld by the UK and European advertising standards boards. However, even if the sites get removed, they will likely pop-up somewhere else quickly. There is an array of misleading information on their websites. Mainly  in the FAQ Section. The idea that they have been in business 35 years (as stated in the UK site’s FAQ) is ludicrous. There are also many false assurances through this FAQ that are simply untrue.
    • Fake CEO names and company details on the websites – We don’t know who is really behind these websites (David O’Sowa may be one of them, but you won’t find his name on any of the websites).The people behind these websites are deliberately misleading customers, by putting up fake photos and names of their CEO’s. They are not being honest about which people or company are truly ‘owning and operating’ their websites.  
    • Legal ruling against them for false advertising: The UK ASA (Advertising Standards Authority) and the European Advertising Standards Authority have both ruled on issues of false advertising on the Barcodes Shop websites – look here for the ruling of misleading advertising by the Barcodes Shop.
    • The Barcodes Shop is also listed on the UK ASA page of Non-compliant online advertisers.
    • False customer feedback. The “feedback” from customers on the Barcodes Shop sites is false and duplicated from one website to another (with just the location & customer name changed!) For example, compare “I’ve just paid for the 100 units package and can’t begin to tell you how HAPPY I was to do so. The India Barcode Shop focus on privacy and security is increasingly important, yet it is one of very, very few companies that is taking users concerns seriously. Thus I wish The India Barcode Shop much success!” by Kapil Singh, Manager – Export, Kirti Nagar, New Delhi on their India site with ““I’ve just paid for the 100 units package and can’t begin to tell you how HAPPY I was to do so. The Barcodes Shop focus on privacy and security is increasingly important yet it is one of very, very few companies that is taking users concerns seriously. Thus I wish The Barcodes Shop much success!” Simon Hazard, Birmingham on their UK site and “I’ve just paid for the 100 units package and can’t begin to tell you how HAPPY I was to do so. The Singapore Barcode Shop focus on privacy and security is increasingly important yet it is one of very, very few companies that is taking users concerns seriously. Thus I wish The Singapore Barcode Shop much success!”
      Somaline Koh, Manager – Export, Singapore on their Singapore site – blatant false claims that are repeated right down the pages – and it looks like these “testimonials are all stolen from another unrelated website.
    • Difficult to contact – They are difficult to contact. While you may get a response via email before purchase, you are unable to call them and speak to a person on the phone. Furthermore, if you have any post-purchase issues, they will quickly become challenging to contact.

    Legal Ruling Against Global Barcodes / The Barcodes Shop:

    On September 10, 2015, the EASA (European Advertising Standards Authority) issued a ruling against Global Barcodes, S.L. “The Barcodes Shop.” This ruling stated –

    “On September 10th 2015, the Jury of Advertising has issued an Opinion on an advertisement of the company Global Barcodes, S.L./ 
    The complaint was filed against an advertisement broadcasted on the Internet. The advertisement offered the purchase of barcodes in European countries indicating that it was an authorized dealer of EAN numbers. Such numbers had been issued by the American companies which were members of the Uniform Code Council before 28th August 2002. The advertisement also displayed several logos and trademarks, such as “ISO 9001”, “Barcodes Numbers Trade”, “Verisign. The Internet Trust Company”, y “Trust Online”.
    The Jury concluded that the advertisement contained objective claims referred to the characteristics of the promoted products, such as the possibility of buying barcodes in the United Kingdom, or the inclusion of the logos mentioned above. The Jury understood that it could be deduced from those claims that the Advertiser had been reckoned by official accreditations. According to rule 23 of the Code of Advertising Practice, the advertiser must meet the burden of proof by submitting sufficient evidence in other to prove the truthfulness and accuracy of the advertisement. However, as the advertiser had not submitted any answer, the Jury concluded that the advertisement was misleading and breached the rule 14 of the Code of Advertising Practice. Likewise, as the advertisement was broadcasted on the Internet, it also breached the Article 3.1 of the Ethical Code of Confianza Online.”

    Legal Action against the Barcode Shop in India:

    The High Court in Delhi issues damages and an injunction following legal proceedings commenced by GS1 India against the Barcode Shop in India in 2021. See https://indiankanoon.org/docfragment/79195393/?formInput=barcode . This highlights the illegal and misleading activities undertaken by the Barcode Shop.

    The UK ASA (Advertising Standards Authority) and the European Advertising Standards Authority have both ruled on issues of false advertising on the Barcodes Shop websites – look here for the ruling of misleading advertising by the Barcodes Shop. The Barcodes Shop is also listed on the UK ASA page of Non-compliant online advertisers.
  • On September 10, 2015, the EASA (European Advertising Standards Authority) issued a ruling against Global Barcodes, S.L. “The Barcodes Shop.” This ruling stated –

“On September 10th 2015, the Jury of Advertising has issued an Opinion on an advertisement of the company Global Barcodes, S.L.
The complaint was filed against an advertisement broadcasted on the Internet. The advertisement offered the purchase of barcodes in European countries indicating that it was an authorized dealer of EAN numbers. Such numbers had been issued by the American companies which were members of the Uniform Code Council before 28th August 2002. The advertisement also displayed several logos and trademarks, such as “ISO 9001”, “Barcodes Numbers Trade”, “Verisign. The Internet Trust Company”, y “Trust Online”.
The Jury concluded that the advertisement contained objective claims referred to the characteristics of the promoted products, such as the possibility of buying barcodes in the United Kingdom, or the inclusion of the logos mentioned above. The Jury understood that it could be deduced from those claims that the Advertiser had been reckoned by official accreditations. According to rule 23 of the Code of Advertising Practice, the advertiser must meet the burden of proof by submitting sufficient evidence in other to prove the truthfulness and accuracy of the advertisement. However, as the advertiser had not submitted any answer, the Jury concluded that the advertisement was misleading and breached the rule 14 of the Code of Advertising Practice. Likewise, as the advertisement was broadcasted on the Internet, it also breached the Article 3.1 of the Ethical Code of Confianza Online.”

The Websites:

Hong Kong Barcodes – SCAM

  • hong-kong-barcodes.com

Indonesia Barcodes [899] – SCAM

  • indonesiabarcodes899.company.site  – Indonesia Barcodes [899]
  • https://indonesiabarcodes899.blogspot.com/2022/09/indonesia-barcodes-899-very-important.html

888 Singapore Barcodes – SCAM

  • 888singaporebarcodes.com
  • https://888singaporebarcodes.company.site/
  • https://888singaporebarcodes.blogspot.com/2022/07/singapore-barcodes-888-certified.html
  • http://www.singaporebarcodeshop.com/

BarcodesUK50 (UK Barcodes) – SCAM

  • https://www.barcodesuk50.com/

Also calls itself UK BARCODES, GLOBAL BARCODES, and BARCODES SHOP.

A List of their Current Websites (operating as either ‘Barcode Shop’ or ‘Global Barcodes’):

  • barcodesuk50.com
  • https://www.codesabarreseanfrance.com/
  • singaporebarcodeshop.com
  • haibisognodiuncodiceabarre.com
  • latiendadelasbarras.com
  • deutschestrichcodes.com
  • latiendadelbidi.com
  • elalmacendelasbarras.com
  • https://www.hong-kong-barcodes.com/ (operating under ‘Global Barcodes’)
  • https://888singaporebarcodes.company.site/ (888 Singapore Barcodes, operating under ‘Global Barcodes’)
  • https://888singaporebarcodes.blogspot.com/2022/07/singapore-barcodes-888-certified.html
  • https://indonesiabarcodes899.company.site/ (Indonesia Barcodes [899] operating under ‘Global Barcodes’) 
  • https://indonesiabarcodes899.blogspot.com/2022/09/indonesia-barcodes-899-very-important.html

Their previous websites (these URLs are now inactive or redirect to their other sites):

  • Thebarcodesshop.co.uk – redirects to barcodesuk50.com
  • aboutiquedesbarres.com – redirects to https://www.codesabarreseanfrance.com/ 
  • elranchodelasbarras.com – inactive
  • 888singaporebarcodes.com – inactive
  • thebarcodehouse.com – inactive
  • indiabarcodeshop.com – inactive following a court ruling against them (click here for more info)
  • taiwanbarcodeshop.com – inactive 
  • www.barcodesforphilippines.com – inactive

This list was updated March 2023. The sites and URLs that are part of the Global Barcodes scam may change at any time.