Warning: Dangerous “Eco Plugs” Sold on Amazon, eBay, and More Could Spark Fires
UK shoppers are being warned about scam “eco plugs” sold on major online sites including Amazon, eBay, Shein, AliExpress, TikTok Shop, and Temu. Marketed as clever gadgets to cut electricity bills by “stabilising” voltage and “balancing” currents, experts say these devices don’t just fail to save energy – they could ignite and cause fires.
Unsafe, Illegal and Fire Hazards
Consumer watchdog Which? tested eight popular eco plugs and found every single one failing basic UK electrical safety standards. The cheap devices contained shoddy soldering, unmarked capacitors, and dangerously high lead levels – all making them illegal to sell in the UK.
“These are not just useless – they’re dangerous,” said Which? head of consumer protection policy Sue Davies. “Despite being illegal, these scam eco-plugs are still widely available, putting unsuspecting households at risk.”
The warning follows multiple 2022 recalls by the Office for Product Safety and Standards due to serious fire and electric shock risks from similar products. Yet sellers keep listing near-identical plugs under new names, even after some have been removed by platforms.
Scam Plugs Still Flooding Marketplaces
Which? revealed many dangerous eco plugs remain for sale, often under different listings. One eBay seller moved over 50 three-packs of “smart electricity-saving boxes.” AliExpress offered devices claiming to “reduce line loss,” while Shein flogged a “Magic Electricity-Saving Box.”
Shoppers have sounded the alarm online. One Amazon buyer warned, “These boxes will do nothing but cause a house fire,” while another called them a plain scam.
Retail Giants Respond
- Amazon: “These products have been removed. We require all items sold to comply with applicable safety laws.”
- eBay: “Listings were removed following audits. We employ AI and manual monitoring to detect and remove unsafe items.”
- Shein: “We take product safety seriously. The item was removed as a precaution while we investigate.”
- AliExpress: “We’ve removed the listings that failed Which? tests and are reviewing similar items.”
- Temu: “Our monitoring systems flagged the product and it was proactively removed before the alert.”
Campaigners Demand Tougher Rules
Consumer safety advocates are calling on the government to toughen online marketplace regulations via the upcoming Product Regulation and Metrology Bill. At present, online platforms face minimal legal responsibility for unsafe third-party goods sold on their sites.
“This case is part of a wider problem. Without tougher regulation and enforcement, dangerous goods will continue slipping through the cracks,” Davies warned.
Don’t Get Burned – Here’s What to Do
- Avoid plug-in energy-saving devices unless from trusted, verified manufacturers.
- If you’ve bought one of these eco plugs, stop using it immediately.
- Report the product to the online platform it was purchased from.
- If you suspect a product caused harm, contact Trading Standards or the Office for Product Safety and Standards.
