British holidaymakers are being urged to check their luggage immediately after a consumer charity exposed thousands of lethal travel adaptors sold on major UK online shopping sites. An investigation by charity Electrical Safety First revealed that at least 10,000 devices purchased across Amazon Marketplace, eBay, TikTok Shop and AliExpress pose a direct and “serious risk” of electrocution – or even death.
Experts tested popular travel adaptors and found that a staggering 14 devices failed to meet basic UK safety standards. In the most severe cases, using the faulty plugs with wet hands could prove fatal. Testing on universal travel adaptors exposed alarming flaws that leave users vulnerable to severe electric shocks and house fires. Six of the eight universal adaptors tested left multiple live metal pins exposed during use, creating an immediate risk of electric shock.
Every universal adaptor failed strength tests, meaning pins can easily snap off inside live wall sockets and electrocute users trying to remove them. Laboratory tests also showed that the plastic casings failed basic flammability standards, significantly increasing the risk of home fires. Additionally, basic adaptors lacked essential safety shutters, fuses and required earth connections.
Speaking on the shocking findings, Giuseppe Capanna, product safety engineer at Electrical Safety First, warned consumers to stay vigilant: “Shopping for your holiday getaway should be an enjoyable experience, not one that puts you at serious risk.
“Shoppers in the UK shouldn’t have to question whether the products they buy might put them at risk, yet our investigation shows that dangerous electrical goods are still finding their way into people’s homes through online marketplaces.”
Consumer champion group Which? also blasted online retailers for allowing the items to reach unsuspecting shoppers. Sue Davies, head of consumer protection policy at Which?, added: “Badly designed electricals can have life-altering – even fatal – consequences. It’s appalling that online marketplaces continue to fail to prevent dangerous products from reaching consumers.”
Following the charity’s urgent investigation, Amazon, eBay, TikTok Shop and AliExpress confirmed they have removed the dangerous listings from their platforms. Both eBay and AliExpress stated that they are conducting further sweeps across their sites to purge any remaining hazardous electrical items.
If Brits have recently bought a cheap, unbranded travel plug online ahead of their holiday, safety experts have advised they cease using it immediately and dispose of it safely.
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
