CLEVELAND-A trend that started in Europe has now appeared in the United States.

The Power Tool Institute (PTI) is warning power tool users not to be conned into buying counterfeit power tools.

In this new con game, people claiming to be sales representatives of major power tool manufacturers have just finished working at a trade show and want to go home without their tool samples. These people typically sell power tools, such as rotary hammers, grinders, cordless tools and combination kits, from the trunk of their rental car for what seems to be bargain basement prices. The unsuspecting buyer often finds out these tools are counterfeit only after they open the boxes and begin to use them.

PTI has also become aware of counterfeit tools being sold over the Internet on some auction sites.

These tools may be dangerous and of poor quality. The tools are not tested and approved by a qualified lab. These counterfeit tools are sometimes sold with stickers from large retail outlets on their cases.

PTI is advising people to refuse the sale and report the action to local authorities and to manufacturers of the tool that was counterfeited. Contact numbers for PTI member companies can be found in the "member profile" section of PTI's Web site at www.powertoolinstitute.com.