HOLIDAYMAKERS have been warned of more than a dozen travel adaptors sold online that risk causing a dangerous fire or serious electric shock.
A snapshot investigation by the Electrical Safety First charity revealed 15 dodgy travel adaptors available across TikTok Shop, Amazon Marketplace, eBay and Wish.
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Two failed a number of important safety tests making them illegal for sale – while others were identified by experts as being a danger just from their images.
The charity says one particular universal travel adaptor of concern found on the TikTok Shop didn’t pass a single test – it was listed as selling over 50,000 items globally.
Legally, universal travel adaptors can only be sold in the UK if it’s designed so that all pins cannot be exposed at once, to prevent pins that are live being accessible.
Worryingly, more than one set of plug pins were able to be exposed at one time when plugged in and live.
These not only pose a risk of electric shock but also potential risk to life if touched with wet hands, exposing users to 240 volts.
Two travel adaptor models from TikTok Shop failed to meet this crucial safety requirement.
The pair were also labelled as having “surge protection” but experts found no such mechanism inside either of them.
It comes as Brits return from August holidays, while others will be jetting off on last minute getaways.
“Brits jetting off for sunnier shores could be packing a harmful travel adaptor in their suitcase, as a result of dangerous devices being sold across major online marketplaces,” explained Giuseppe Capanna, product safety engineer at Electrical Safety First.
“Consumers should be able to trust that the products they buy online are safe, but our investigation shows that is far from the case.
“These adaptors are not just illegal, some are potentially lethal.
“When live pins are exposed, it only takes one accidental touch to cause electric shock, or even death.“
Electrical Safety First has long been pushing the Government to force online marketplaces to be held legally responsible for the safety of goods sold via their sites.
At present, these platforms are not legally recognised as an actor in the supply chain, meaning they have no legal responsibility for the safety of goods sold by third parties on their platforms.
“Without proper regulation, dangerous goods will keep flooding into homes through online marketplaces, putting people at risk,” Giuseppe added.
In total, experts from the charity identified four listings on Amazon Marketplace, four on eBay, five on Wish and two on TikTok Shop.
The two adaptors on TikTok Shop were purchased and tested, while 13 others from across Amazon, eBay and Wish were highlighted as unsafe from the images used to advertise them alone.
All have been removed from sale since the investigation.
TikTok says the safety of its customers is a top priority, with strict measures in place to ensure that sellers comply with regulations and safety standards.
Between July 2024 and December 2024, the platform rejected more than 50 million product listing attempts using a combination of algorithmic and human moderation efforts.
A spokesperson for eBay said: “We work diligently to keep our site safe and prevent prohibited listings through seller compliance audits, block filter algorithms for unsafe listings, and AI-supported monitoring by our team of in-house specialists.”
Meanwhile an Amazon rep said: “We require all products offered in our store to comply with applicable laws, regulations and Amazon policies.
“We ensure our selection meets industry-accepted standards, and we develop innovative tools to prevent unsafe products from being listed.”
And Wish commented: “We take every report of unsafe or non-compliant products very seriously.
“Our dedicated compliance team acts swiftly to review such listings and ensure they are removed, demonstrating our unwavering commitment to user safety.”
The 8 fire safety checks you should do in your home every night
TO avoid a devastating fire in your home, there are some checks you should be conducting every night, according to Gov.uk.
- Close inside doors at night to stop a fire from spreading
- Turn off and unplug electrical appliances unless they are designed to be left on – like your freezer.
- Check your cooker is turned off
- Don’t run appliances such as washing machines, tumble dryers and dishwashers overnight
- Turn heaters off and put up fireguards
- Put candles and cigarettes out properly
- Make sure exits are kept clear
- Keep door and window keys where everyone can find them
