Amazon among retailers who sold fatal fake phone chargers

That is the warning issued by consumer group Which? following an investigation into USB phone chargers available from major retailers.

The watchdog purchased 15 chargers from seven online marketplaces and subjected them to safety testing.

It found that nine chargers, sourced from Amazon Haul, AliExpress, B&Q Marketplace, Debenhams Marketplace, and eBay, were so poorly made that they posed a risk of electric shock.

Eight of the nine also presented fire and explosion hazards.

Phone chargers pose “fatal” risk to users

Sue Davies, head of consumer protection policy at Which?, 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.

“The Government must urgently use the new powers it has under the Product Regulation and Metrology Act to update product safety legislation and impose a clear legal duty on online marketplaces for ensuring the safety of products sold through their third-party sellers, with tough enforcement for those that fall short.

“By making online marketplaces legally responsible for unsafe products, the Government can set a world-leading standard for product safety in the digital age.”

The safety flaws that make these chargers illegal

All 15 chargers in the investigation were missing key information on the packaging, the charger itself, or in the documentation provided.

This omission alone makes them illegal to sell in the UK.

Further testing revealed more serious safety flaws.

One charger, sold on eBay for £11.99 and labelled as an ‘Apple’ USB-C 35W power adaptor, was identified as a dangerous counterfeit.

Which? testers heard arcing noises – a sign of electrical current jumping between circuit components – just 10 seconds into an electrical strength test.

This could potentially lead to electric shock, fire, or explosion.

Upon opening the device, researchers found a lump of modelling clay inside.

It appeared to be used to add weight and make the fake product feel more authentic.

Which? researchers found a lump of modelling clay inside one phone charger (pictured). (Image: Which/PA Wire)

One customer who bought the charger posted on the listing to say that it had ‘overloaded and ruined’ their iPad and phone, both of which had stopped charging.

Two unbranded chargers purchased from eBay for £2.10 and £2.80 were also found to be significant safety hazards, with risks of fire, explosion, and electrocution.

Amazon’s low-cost platform, Amazon Haul, sold a £6.99 USB-C charger that failed electrical safety tests and was found to be a shock and fire risk.

A £10.99 2-1 Super Fast Charger from B&Q Marketplace failed similarly, presenting a threat of explosion, fire, or electric shock.

A £9.99 Dual Port 35W charger from Debenhams Marketplace was weighted with modelling clay and failed all safety tests.

Two AliExpress chargers costing £1.30 and £5.69 were also found to pose risks of explosion, electric shock, and fire.

While chargers bought from Temu and Shein passed electrical safety checks, they lacked required UK importer details and other legally mandated markings.

Chief executive of Electrical Safety First, Lesley Rudd, said: “Counterfeiting is a very intentional act.

“The driving force is often solely about maximising profit and, in doing so, cutting corners on safety.

“Our own research into counterfeit Apple chargers found criminals filling them with metal weights to mimic the feel of genuine products.

“This introduced a serious risk of electric shock.

“Whilst we welcome the Government’s initial plans to regulate online marketplaces, a clear and legal duty of care must be placed upon those companies.

“This must be backed by robust enforcement and meaningful penalties that reflect the very real risks millions of UK shoppers are exposed to every day.”

All retailers involved stated that they prioritised customer safety, and the listings have been removed (either proactively or in response to Which?’s investigation).

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