99% of Counterfeit Apple Chargers Bought Online Fail a Basic Safety Test

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Posted December 2, 2016 at 4:40pm by iClarified

CTSI, the Chartered Trading Standards Institute, is urging people to think twice when they buy second-hand electrical goods or cheap and often counterfeit chargers after investigators found that many of them are unsafe.

During a recent operation investigators bought 400 counterfeit Apple chargers from suppliers around the world, online, and found that 397 of them failed a basic safety test. Another operation targeted local second shops in the U.K. and found that 15% of 3,019 used electrical goods were non-compliant.

Leon Livermore, Chartered Trading Standards Institute chief executive, said: “Only buy second-hand electrical goods that have been tested and only buy online electrical goods from trusted suppliers. It might cost a few pounds more but counterfeit and second-hand goods are an unknown entity that could cost you your home or even your life, or the life of a loved-one.”

Incidents of shock and fire leading to death and injury due to counterfeit chargers led Apple to launch a Counterfeit USB Charger Program in the US and China. The program was then expanded to additional countries.

In October, Apple filed a lawsuit against Mobile Star LLC for making fake Apple chargers and cables and selling them on Amazon as authentic goods.

If you're using a knockoff charger, we recommend you discard it as soon as possible.

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99% of Counterfeit Apple Chargers Bought Online Fail a Basic Safety Test

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Humpty Dumpty - December 4, 2016 at 5:10am

I want to meet the three counterfeit chargers that worked....

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Rock the Unicorn - December 3, 2016 at 1:45pm

I think paying 20£ for a charger without cable(15£ more) is retarded, when you can find other companies make iPhone chargers for less then 3£ and they are safety tested. I think is more dangerous to have a Samsung Note7 then a crappy replica of an iPhone charger.

Sparkie - December 3, 2016 at 3:27am

They did mention the brand! Apple! But it's counterfeit. You're not going to know the actual manufacturer because it's marked as being made by Apple. They're not talking about your charger if it's marked as being made by someone else.

obviously - December 3, 2016 at 9:49am

All they are saying is that you should buy from trusted sources, e.g: apple. I myself don't ever buy from anyone other than apple. It's just not worth the risk. You're ruining your iPhone battery at best, and risking everyone in your house dying at worst. just not worth the risk,

Chivo - December 2, 2016 at 9:48pm

Wondering what counterfeit brands they talking about . I been using a none applr brand for years and no issues and it supply power to 5 usb . So they should mention brand because it is quite expensive to pay 15-20 for small charger not including cable

Great! - December 3, 2016 at 12:18am

At one time Apple let you take your counterfeit charger to them and sold the Apple original for $10. Why didn't you do that? Safety not worth $10? And why should Apple tell you which brand is safe? Is that their business that you want to take unnecessary risks on your own life after being warned?

iSheep - December 3, 2016 at 4:46am

In October, Apple filed a lawsuit against Mobile Star LLC for making fake Apple chargers and cables and selling them on Amazon as authentic goods.

iSheep - December 3, 2016 at 4:48am

During a recent operation investigators bought 400 counterfeit Apple chargers from suppliers around the world, online, and found that 397 of them failed a basic safety test. Another operation targeted local second shops in the U.K. and found that 15% of 3,019 used electrical goods were non-compliant