Consumer group Which? has discovered potentially lethal knock-off phone chargers being sold on major websites including Amazon, eBay, and B&Q. The chargers pose risks of electrocution or explosion, according to the investigation.
Seven Years After First Warning
This latest discovery comes seven years after Which? first exposed the danger of such chargers. The group is calling on the government to urgently use new powers to impose a clear legal duty on online marketplaces to ensure the safety of products sold by third-party sellers.
Which? bought 15 USB chargers from seven online marketplaces and tested them. Nine were so badly manufactured that anyone using them was at risk of receiving an electric shock.
Dangerous Fakes Found
An £11.99 power adaptor bought from eBay had an Apple logo but was a cheap and dangerous fake. Inside, a lump of modelling clay was found, likely to give the charger a more robust feel. A £9.99 Dual Port 35W charger from Debenhams' marketplace also contained modelling clay and failed all electrical safety tests.
Two unbranded chargers from eBay sellers, priced at £2.10 and £2.80, posed risks of fire, explosion, and electrocution. From Amazon and Amazon Haul, a £6.99 unbranded USB-C charger failed safety tests and was a shock and fire risk. Two chargers from AliExpress for £1.30 and £5.69 had electrical circuitry parts too close together, risking explosion or shock. A 2-1 Super Fast Charger (£10.99) from B&Q Marketplace also failed safety tests.
Consumer Group's Call
Sue Davies, Which? head of consumer protection policy, said: "Badly designed electricals like these can have life-altering - even fatal - consequences. Online marketplaces have known about the danger of knock off chargers for the better part of a decade, but consumers continue to be placed at risk." She urged the government to use the Product Regulation and Metrology Act to update product safety legislation and impose a legal duty on marketplaces, with tough enforcement.
Responses from Retailers
An Amazon spokesperson said: "Customer safety is a top priority... We've removed the highlighted items." An eBay spokesperson said: "All items listed in this investigation had already been removed by eBay's standard safety measures." An AliExpress spokesperson said: "We have removed both identified products." A Debenhams spokesperson said: "We immediately removed this product from our website." A B&Q spokesperson said: "We take the safety of products sold by sellers at B&Q Marketplace very seriously."
