iPhone owners warned of ‘dangerous’ dupes that risk causing fires as experts uncover shocking trick to deceive shoppers

IPHONE owners have been warned of dangerous tactics being used by criminal counterfeiters flogging cheap chargers. Dodgy sellers are hiding metal weights inside fake Apple power adapters to make them appear like genuine high quality accessories. Apple and charity Electrical Safety First tested 56 UK and 60 EU iPhone power adapters it identified as counterfeit and marked with Apple’s trademarks or lookalikes, those not marked with the trademarks but which copied the design of a genuine charger.

Of these, 22 samples underwent further internal investigation and 68 per cent were found to have useless metal weights inside them. In some cases, the metal weight within the counterfeit charger made up a quarter of the overall weight of the product.

Metal weights risk short circuiting the device, increasing the chances of electric shock and fire. Electrical Safety First said such adjustments "seriously compromised" electrical separation, meaning the user is at risk of coming into contact with a very harmful level of voltage.

"Criminal counterfeiters are doing everything they can to trick shoppers into thinking they’ve bagged a bargain, developing their tactics to avoid suspicion," warned Luke Osborne, deputy technical director at Electrical Safety First. “Some of these new tactics are increasing the risk of electric shock and fire to the buyer including adding in metal weights to give the impression the adapter feels like a legitimate product.

“Criminals are working harder than ever to deceive consumers, with no regard for their safety in the process.”. A separate test looking at strength of plug pins found seven in 10 failed. Many of the plug pins snapped completely or became wonky. This too carries the risk of a serious electric shock.

"If you’re looking to bag an electronic bargain it has never been more important to stick to a reputable retailer or manufacturer in order to shield yourself and your loved ones from fakes that could risk your safety," Mr Osborne added. Plug pins. Plug pin finish and its material is another obvious indicator that the product is either counterfeit or substandard.

The finish on the plug pins on a genuine charger is high quality, matt, and uniform. On counterfeit adapters, the finish is usually glossy or shiny with surface imperfections. Text and markings. Look out for poor-quality markings and spelling mistakes. Genuine Apple adapters have a solid Apple logo and well-defined wording.

Genuine Apple markings are clean and legible. Many of the counterfeit and lookalike models inspected had poor or ill-defined logos and markings. Online listings. Sellers of legitimate branded goods don’t need to over emphasise that the product is genuine.