Consumer watchdog Which? has issued a stark warning about phone chargers sold online by major retailers including Amazon, B&Q and eBay, which can electrocute users and even explode. The organization purchased 15 USB phone chargers from seven online marketplaces and subjected them to rigorous testing to determine their safety and legal compliance for sale in the UK. The results were alarming: nine chargers were so poorly made that users faced a genuine risk of electric shock.
Risks identified across multiple platforms
The nine dangerous chargers were sourced from Amazon, including its budget platform Amazon Haul, as well as AliExpress, B&Q Marketplace, Debenhams Marketplace and eBay. Eight of these also presented serious fire and explosion risks. All 15 chargers lacked vital information on their packaging, the charger itself, or accompanying documentation – details legally required for sale in the UK.
Counterfeit Apple charger found on eBay
One charger, advertised as an "Apple" USB-C 35W Power Adaptor for £11.99 on eBay and bearing the Apple logo, turned out to be a hazardous counterfeit. During electrical strength testing, arcing sounds were detected within just 10 seconds – a phenomenon where current leaps between two parts of a circuit, potentially triggering a fire, explosion, or lethal electric shock. When researchers cracked open the casing, they discovered a lump of modeling clay inside, believed to be used to make the device feel heavier and more authentic. One customer review on the listing stated the charger had overloaded and destroyed their iPad and phone, rendering both unable to charge.
Cheap chargers pose deadly threats
Two unbranded phone chargers purchased from eBay sellers for £2.10 and £2.80 both presented risks of fire, explosion and electrocution. On Amazon Haul, a USB-C charger sold for £6.99 failed electrical safety tests and was deemed a shock and fire hazard. The 2-1 Super Fast Charger priced at £10.99 from a seller on B&Q Marketplace also failed safety tests, with potential to explode, ignite a fire or deliver an electric shock. A Dual Port 35W charger retailing at £9.99 from Debenhams marketplace similarly failed all safety tests and was weighted with modeling clay.
AliExpress chargers also fail
Two chargers from AliExpress sellers, priced at £1.30 and £5.69, displayed multiple faults capable of causing an explosion, fire or electric shock. Meanwhile, chargers from Temu and Shein passed safety tests but lacked required product markings, including details of the UK importer.
Calls for stronger regulation
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." She urged the Government to use new powers 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 third-party sellers, with tough enforcement for those that fall short.
Lesley Rudd, chief executive of Electrical Safety First, added: "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." She emphasized the need for a clear legal duty of care on online marketplaces, backed by robust enforcement and meaningful penalties.
The retailers concerned confirmed they had taken down the problematic listings, either on their own initiative or following Which?'s discoveries. All emphasized that customer safety was a top priority.
