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| Consumers are being warned about the continued widespread availability of illegal and potentially lethal "eco plugs" on popular online marketplaces, despite multiple government recalls and conclusive testing proving they offer no energy savings whatsoever. An investigation by Which? has revealed that these scam devices, marketed as a way to cut electricity bills, flagrantly fail basic electrical safety standards, posing a significant risk of fire and electric shock to unsuspecting buyers. |
The deceptive plugs are sold with claims of "stabilising" voltage, "balancing" electric current, and "optimising" appliance performance to reduce energy consumption. However, rigorous testing conducted by the consumer champion Which? on eight such devices purchased from major online platforms including AliExpress, Amazon, eBay, Shein, Temu, and TikTok Shop, found absolutely no evidence of their purported energy-saving capabilities. Alarmingly, all eight devices failed fundamental electrical safety checks, rendering them not only ineffective but also illegal and extremely dangerous for household use.
This is not the first time these hazardous products have been flagged. In 2022, the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) issued official recalls for four near-identical devices sold on AliExpress, eBay, and Wish, explicitly citing a "serious risk of fire and electric shock." Despite these serious warnings and platform delistings at the time, the latest Which? investigation demonstrates a disturbing lack of effective policing, with numerous identical-looking devices readily available for purchase weeks after the consumer group reported them.
Which? highlighted a concerning pattern of inaction. In 2022, their researchers had previously tested similar devices bought from Amazon and eBay, reporting their dangerous nature to the platforms, which subsequently removed those specific listings. Yet, the persistent reappearance of these hazardous items underscores the challenges in effectively removing dangerous products from the vast online marketplace ecosystem.
In response to the latest findings, the online platforms stated their commitment to consumer safety and outlined measures taken to remove the reported listings.
An eBay spokesperson emphasized that consumer safety is a "top priority," detailing their proactive approach, including auditing seller compliance documentation and employing block filter algorithms and AI-supported monitoring to prevent unsafe listings. They claimed that the two specific listings from which Which? made test purchases had already been removed due to insufficient documentation provided by the sellers, even before Which?'s safety concerns were raised. eBay also highlighted its regulatory portal for authorities to report listings, leading to automatic removal of unsafe items within two hours.
Shein stated that product safety is taken "very seriously" and that upon learning of the claims, the identified items were immediately removed from their site pending investigation.
AliExpress asserted its strict rules and policies for a safe online shopping environment, stating that third-party sellers must comply with laws and platform rules. They confirmed the removal of the tested product listings and similar problematic items identified through their verification processes.
Temu claimed a "multi-pronged approach" to product monitoring, requiring traders to meet market safety standards. They stated that their proactive monitoring had already flagged and removed the specific product before Which? contacted them.
TikTok did not provide a comment on the matter.
Despite these assurances, the fact that these dangerous and ineffective "eco plugs" continue to be so easily accessible raises serious questions about the efficacy of the platforms' safety measures and the level of protection afforded to consumers. The repeated appearance of these recalled items suggests a need for more robust and proactive measures to prevent their sale in the first place.
Which? is urging consumers to be extremely cautious of any product promising significant energy savings through simple plug-in devices. Their consistent testing has shown no evidence of such devices working, and more worryingly, many pose a significant safety risk. Shoppers are advised to thoroughly research products and sellers before purchasing from online marketplaces and to be particularly wary of deals that seem too good to be true.
The investigation serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers lurking within online marketplaces and the ongoing battle to keep illegal and hazardous products out of consumers' homes. As these "eco plugs" demonstrate, the responsibility for ensuring product safety cannot solely rest on consumers; online platforms must implement more stringent checks and swiftly remove dangerous items to prevent harm.
