Giuseppe Cabana of the UK charity Electrical Safety First has warned that fake chargers can cause a fire or dangerous electric shock.
Speaking to The Sun this week, Cabana shared some signs that your device could be a death trap.
"Counterfeit iPhone chargers are intentionally designed to look identical or similar to the original product in order to deceive consumers," Giuseppe said. "Counterfeit products are often made with substandard components, which puts the buyer at risk."
"They pose a particularly insidious threat to the consumer, undermining legitimate manufacturers and retailers while often posing a risk of fire, serious electric shock or even electrocution," he added.
Counterfeit iPhone cables fall into two categories: counterfeit and non-certified.
It is noteworthy that the counterfeit product is a cheap product that is counterfeited to appear as if it was made by "Apple" (Apple), while the non-certified product is that made by third-party companies without Apple's approval.
Generally speaking, if you buy a cheap cable from a reputable and certified Apple retailer, the product is safe, but on the other hand, counterfeit and uncertified cables can be dangerous and have been accused on numerous occasions of dangerous explosions, fatal electric shocks and fires. homes.
An investigation by ESF previously found that up to 98 percent of counterfeit Apple cables put consumers at risk.
And if you buy a charger from a discount store or online marketplace and aren't sure if it's fake, there are a number of clear clues to look for.
1. Check the package and cable
If you purchased a charging cable from a third-party seller, make sure it is Apple certified by carefully looking at the charger's packaging.
Approved third-party accessories have an Apple MFi badge on their packaging, which indicates "Made for iPod", "Made for iPod", "iPhone", or "iPad".
Certified third-party accessories have an Apple MFi badge on their packaging (networking sites)
In addition, look for missing tags or misspellings in the text on the cable, Cabana said, adding that "this is the easiest way to spot counterfeits, but beware, as counterfeits become more complex."
2. Look at the plug
It is a good idea to compare your charger with another charger from Apple.
Imitation accessories tend to be thinner and lighter in the hand.
As a result, you can test the plug pins for signs of a counterfeit product.
“Our tests have shown that the screws on fake plugs are much weaker than what is legally required by established standards. This is usually because they are metal-coated hollow plastic, rather than the solid metal used in the original products,” Cabana said. nail and listen to the noise it makes. The original components look solid, while fakes will make a plastic noise and feel empty."
In addition, the finish of the plug housing can indicate the presence of a fake.
"The finish of the original charger is high quality, matte and uniform. In imitation chargers, the finish is usually glossy or glossy with imperfections," Cabana explained.
3. Weight, shape and dimensions
It is worth taking a look at the weight of the item and the connecting pins, as it was found that the counterfeit is lighter than the original Apple product, and the pins may be the wrong size or shape.
"Since counterfeit chargers contain few, if any, quality components required for safety, they are usually much lighter than original chargers. The charger should weigh about 40 grams," Cabana said.
"The plug pins of a fake iPhone charger may be larger or smaller than the original charger and can be located in a different location. The easiest way to check is to use a plug-in check for electrical safety first."