The British consumer rights organization Which? has issued a warning that, despite the exposure of associated risks seven years prior, 'potentially fatal' counterfeit chargers are still being sold across several major e-commerce platforms. In its most recent investigation, Which? procured 15 USB mobile phone chargers from seven online marketplaces. The findings revealed that these products were missing crucial labeling and information, thus failing to comply with the legal sales requirements in the UK. Nine of these chargers were found to be of exceptionally poor manufacturing quality, presenting risks of electric shock, fire, or even explosion. These counterfeit chargers frequently employed substandard materials, lacked essential protective circuits, and were sometimes filled with substances such as modeling clay to masquerade as authentic products. Which? has urged the UK government to clearly define the legal responsibilities of online platforms concerning the safety of products sold by third-party vendors.
