Fake cigs are about in the UK, but not in such massive quantities as you might think. Mostly cigs that taste bad are from Eastern Europe and are just old, leading to a degredation in flavour. If the packages are in English and look like British cigs packaging wise then the chances are they could be fakes if the prices are low and they taste 'different'. The taste problems are because they don't use the same quality of tobacco, nor the same blends as the legit manufacuters.
Searching on some of the B2B websites will show up loads of Chinese companies in particular specifically advertising that they can make fake cigs at seemingly excellent prices.
For the last couple of years I've been smoking legitimate european cigs (but not UK) and even they seem to have a slightly different taste even though they're manufactured in the same plant in as the British ones.
I'd suspect there are also companies out and about ripping off the e-cig designs, patent or not! It's just the way of the world..
