Potentially lethal 'knock-off' chargers found in major online marketplaces - Tech Digest
A damning investigation by consumer watchdog Which? has revealed that shoddy and dangerous counterfeit phone chargers capable of exploding or delivering fatal electric shocks are being widely sold on major online platforms. Researchers purchased 15 USB phone chargers from seven major marketplaces, including Amazon, eBay, and AliExpress, subjecting them to rigorous electrical stress tests. The results showed that nine out of the 15 chargers failed safety assessments, presenting immediate risks to users, while eight carried severe fire and explosion hazards. Furthermore, all 15 tested items were found to be non-compliant with UK legal requirements due to missing packaging information and safety instructions. Manufacturers employed deceptive tactics to mask poor build quality, such as filling lightweight casings with modelling clay to simulate the substantial weight of authentic devices. Specific examples included a Dual Port 35W charger from Debenhams marketplace and a counterfeit Apple USB-C 35W Power Adaptor sold for £11.99. While some devices passed physical laboratory stress tests, none possessed the mandatory details identifying the UK importer, rendering them illegal for sale in the country. Hazardous plugs sourced via B&Q Marketplace burned out during insulation tests, and cheap unbranded plugs from eBay failed due to insufficient internal spacing. The findings have intensified pressure on the government to utilize powers under the Product Regulation and Metrology Act to update product safety legislation. Sue Davies, Head of Consumer Protection Policy at Which?, warned that badly designed electricals can have life-altering consequences and urged regulators to impose a clear legal duty on online marketplaces. Although secondary legislation holding platforms liable for third-party safety failures has stalled, the investigation underscores the urgent need for tougher enforcement. Major platforms responded to the inquiry by confirming the removal of identified items and outlining their safety protocols. AliExpress stated they removed products upon report and would inform affected consumers, while Amazon emphasized their partnership with Electrical Safety First and proactive monitoring. eBay confirmed that listed items had already been removed by standard safety measures prior to the investigation sharing, citing AI-supported monitoring and seller compliance audits. Other retailers including Shein, Temu, B&Q, and Debenhams also committed to delisting non-compliant products and reviewing seller accounts. To protect homes from hazardous counterfeits, experts recommend sticking to verified brands and established high-street retailers rather than unverified third-party sellers. Consumers should inspect pricing, as deals that seem too good to be true often indicate fakes, and check for regulatory markings like CE or UKCA on the plug chassis. Additionally, locating the postal address of the official UK importer on the packaging is a critical step to identify compliant devices, as a total absence of importer data signals a non-compliant product. This investigation confirms that dangerous counterfeit electronics remain readily accessible despite previous warnings, highlighting a significant gap between existing safety standards and marketplace enforcement. The deliberate use of deceptive manufacturing tactics, such as adding weight to fake chargers, demonstrates that consumer protection relies heavily on vigilance beyond simple visual inspection. While platforms claim robust monitoring systems, the persistence of non-compliant listings suggests that automated checks may still miss nuanced safety violations. Future effectiveness will depend on whether the government successfully implements secondary legislation to hold digital storefronts legally accountable for third-party sales.
Published: June 9, 2026 at 11:00 PM
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A damning investigation by consumer watchdog Which? has revealed that shoddy and dangerous counterfeit phone chargers capable of exploding or delivering fatal electric shocks are being widely sold on major online platforms. Researchers purchased 15 USB phone chargers from seven major marketplaces, including Amazon, eBay, and AliExpress, subjecting them to rigorous electrical stress tests. The results showed that nine out of the 15 chargers failed safety assessments, presenting immediate risks to users, while eight carried severe fire and explosion hazards. Furthermore, all 15 tested items were found to be non-compliant with UK legal requirements due to missing packaging information and safety instructions.
Manufacturers employed deceptive tactics to mask poor build quality, such as filling lightweight casings with modelling clay to simulate the substantial weight of authentic devices. Specific examples included a Dual Port 35W charger from Debenhams marketplace and a counterfeit Apple USB-C 35W Power Adaptor sold for £11.99. While some devices passed physical laboratory stress tests, none possessed the mandatory details identifying the UK importer, rendering them illegal for sale in the country. Hazardous plugs sourced via B&Q Marketplace burned out during insulation tests, and cheap unbranded plugs from eBay failed due to insufficient internal spacing.
The findings have intensified pressure on the government to utilize powers under the Product Regulation and Metrology Act to update product safety legislation. Sue Davies, Head of Consumer Protection Policy at Which?, warned that badly designed electricals can have life-altering consequences and urged regulators to impose a clear legal duty on online marketplaces. Although secondary legislation holding platforms liable for third-party safety failures has stalled, the investigation underscores the urgent need for tougher enforcement.
Major platforms responded to the inquiry by confirming the removal of identified items and outlining their safety protocols. AliExpress stated they removed products upon report and would inform affected consumers, while Amazon emphasized their partnership with Electrical Safety First and proactive monitoring. eBay confirmed that listed items had already been removed by standard safety measures prior to the investigation sharing, citing AI-supported monitoring and seller compliance audits. Other retailers including Shein, Temu, B&Q, and Debenhams also committed to delisting non-compliant products and reviewing seller accounts.
To protect homes from hazardous counterfeits, experts recommend sticking to verified brands and established high-street retailers rather than unverified third-party sellers. Consumers should inspect pricing, as deals that seem too good to be true often indicate fakes, and check for regulatory markings like CE or UKCA on the plug chassis. Additionally, locating the postal address of the official UK importer on the packaging is a critical step to identify compliant devices, as a total absence of importer data signals a non-compliant product.
Key Insights
This investigation confirms that dangerous counterfeit electronics remain readily accessible despite previous warnings, highlighting a significant gap between existing safety standards and marketplace enforcement.
The deliberate use of deceptive manufacturing tactics, such as adding weight to fake chargers, demonstrates that consumer protection relies heavily on vigilance beyond simple visual inspection.
While platforms claim robust monitoring systems, the persistence of non-compliant listings suggests that automated checks may still miss nuanced safety violations.
Future effectiveness will depend on whether the government successfully implements secondary legislation to hold digital storefronts legally accountable for third-party sales.
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