Dangerous counterfeits a growing problem
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It's a hidden hazard that could set your house on fire or electrocute you. Counterfeit electronics are downright dangerous.
But the people who make these fake electrical products - mainly in China and Mexico - don't really care about your safety.
"These things can kill you," says says Brett Brenner, president of the Electrical Safety Foundation. "A purse or a CD isn't going to hurt you. But a counterfeit electrical product will hurt you. It's pretty scary."
Brenner has a growing collection of counterfeit products: batteries, power strips, extension cords, hair dryers and cell phone chargers.
Counterfeit products often use counterfeit safety seals to make them look legit. The manufacturers of the fake goods want you to think the products have been safety tested when they have not.
Underwriters Laboratories, which certifies the safety and compliance of many products, is aware of the problem and fighting back.
"We never negotiate with counterfeiters," says John Drengenberg with Underwriters Laboratories. "Once they're found out, we make sure the products are destroyed."
Christmas lights are a perfect product for counterfeiting because of the high sales volume and low manufacturing cost.
Underwriters Laboratories recently issued a warning about icicle lights sporting a fake UL symbol.
The lights can shock you, or overheat and cause a fire.
This summer, Underwriters Laboratories unveiled a new safety seal - a gold foil hologram. It will eventually replace the silver seal that counterfeiters are now able to copy.
"This label is very much like U.S. currency," Drengenberg explained. "It's got color shifting ink in it. It's got UL's floating in the background because it's a holographic label. And we also have a lot of hidden information in the label that we can use for anti-counterfeiting measures."
In the construction industry, the counterfeit problem is enormous, estimated at half a billion dollars a year.
Dangerous receptacles, substandard wire and copy-cat circuit breakers that look just like the real ones are some of the products often made by counterfeiters.
"And you have no clue until that emergency happens and it doesn't break and it doesn't shut if off and you end up with a fire," says John Maisel, publisher of Electrical Contractor Magazine.
Agents with U.S. Customs and Border Protection do their best to spot the fakes before they make it to market.
Last year, they seized $22 million worth of electronics. That's up 43 percent from 2007, and all indications are that this year will be even worse.
Inspectors in Seattle recently confiscated counterfeit Apple iPod Touch music players. The people who made the fakes were pros.
"It certainly does look real," says John Malmo, assistant port director for U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Seattle.
"I think whoever takes a look at this and the genuine product would really have a hard time distinguishing between the genuine and the fake."
So, how do you spot the fakes?
Check the package -- beware of any electrical product that doesn't have a brand name, doesn't list a company name and address or doesn't have a UPC code.
Typos on the packaging are an obvious warning sign. And be skeptical of any product where the price just seems ridiculously low.
You can greatly reduce you chance of getting burned by shopping at well-known stores or Web sites. These retailers don't want to risk selling counterfeits so they take greater care in the merchandise they stock.
Experts say most counterfeits are found at small bargain stores or relatively unknown Web sites.
But the people who make these fake electrical products - mainly in China and Mexico - don't really care about your safety.
"These things can kill you," says says Brett Brenner, president of the Electrical Safety Foundation. "A purse or a CD isn't going to hurt you. But a counterfeit electrical product will hurt you. It's pretty scary."
Brenner has a growing collection of counterfeit products: batteries, power strips, extension cords, hair dryers and cell phone chargers.
Counterfeit products often use counterfeit safety seals to make them look legit. The manufacturers of the fake goods want you to think the products have been safety tested when they have not.
Underwriters Laboratories, which certifies the safety and compliance of many products, is aware of the problem and fighting back.
"We never negotiate with counterfeiters," says John Drengenberg with Underwriters Laboratories. "Once they're found out, we make sure the products are destroyed."
Christmas lights are a perfect product for counterfeiting because of the high sales volume and low manufacturing cost.
Underwriters Laboratories recently issued a warning about icicle lights sporting a fake UL symbol.
The lights can shock you, or overheat and cause a fire.
This summer, Underwriters Laboratories unveiled a new safety seal - a gold foil hologram. It will eventually replace the silver seal that counterfeiters are now able to copy.
"This label is very much like U.S. currency," Drengenberg explained. "It's got color shifting ink in it. It's got UL's floating in the background because it's a holographic label. And we also have a lot of hidden information in the label that we can use for anti-counterfeiting measures."
In the construction industry, the counterfeit problem is enormous, estimated at half a billion dollars a year.
Dangerous receptacles, substandard wire and copy-cat circuit breakers that look just like the real ones are some of the products often made by counterfeiters.
"And you have no clue until that emergency happens and it doesn't break and it doesn't shut if off and you end up with a fire," says John Maisel, publisher of Electrical Contractor Magazine.
Agents with U.S. Customs and Border Protection do their best to spot the fakes before they make it to market.
Last year, they seized $22 million worth of electronics. That's up 43 percent from 2007, and all indications are that this year will be even worse.
Inspectors in Seattle recently confiscated counterfeit Apple iPod Touch music players. The people who made the fakes were pros.
"It certainly does look real," says John Malmo, assistant port director for U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Seattle.
"I think whoever takes a look at this and the genuine product would really have a hard time distinguishing between the genuine and the fake."
So, how do you spot the fakes?
Check the package -- beware of any electrical product that doesn't have a brand name, doesn't list a company name and address or doesn't have a UPC code.
Typos on the packaging are an obvious warning sign. And be skeptical of any product where the price just seems ridiculously low.
You can greatly reduce you chance of getting burned by shopping at well-known stores or Web sites. These retailers don't want to risk selling counterfeits so they take greater care in the merchandise they stock.
Experts say most counterfeits are found at small bargain stores or relatively unknown Web sites.
