Officers removed more than 200 counterfeit chargers from sale. Counterfeit chargers are a fire risk and should not be used.
Stop using a charger you suspect is counterfeit
Consumer Affairs officers removed more than 200 counterfeit phone chargers from sale at a premises following a routine inspection. The chargers carried the branding of a well-known manufacturer but were not made by them.
How to spot one
- The price is far below what the same charger costs from an authorised dealer
- The moulding is rough, the seams do not meet cleanly, or the pins wobble
- Printed text is misspelt, blurred, or missing safety and compliance markings
- It is unusually light for its size
- It becomes hot to the touch in normal use
None of these is conclusive on its own, but several together are a strong signal. The most reliable protection is buying from an authorised dealer and keeping the receipt.
If you bought one
You are entitled to raise it with the seller, and a counterfeit item sold as genuine is a matter the Division will take up. File a complaint through this portal with the receipt and a photograph of the charger and its packaging.