We know it’s easy to miss those small details that give away a fake, especially in the rush of Christmas shopping and trying to grab a bargain on Black Friday. We’ve found that an estimated nine million UK shoppers have purchased a fake electrical product as a Christmas gift in the past – pretty scary when you think about the fact that fake internal components in electrical items are at risk of exploding, leaving you open to serious injury or property damage. When you buy a fake, whether knowingly or unknowingly, at best you’re being swindled but at worst you’re putting your life at risk.
So if you’re making a list ahead of Black Friday, make sure you check it twice!
Below are our five top tips for safer shopping this Christmas:
• Buy electrical products from reputable retailers. This way you can be assured you’re buying the real thing as some fake products can be hard to identify
• Check prices and shop around! Check online shops and if possible, visit the high street. If a bargain looks too good to be true, it probably is!
• Check that the voltage is 230-240V, 50Hz and that they are fitted with a three-pin UK plug or charger
• Look for the padlock symbol at the bottom of the screen when you are filling in your payment details.
• Beware of glowing reviews, especially if the reviewers aren’t verified. Some sites cross-reference user reviews with their buyer database and label those people as "verified purchasers"
We've also put together a video highlighting how difficult it can be to spot a fake, featuring Elvis Presley himself (well, sort of!)
For more information, including how to spot a fake, visit electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk