Exploding cell phone warnings just a hoax
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People who use cell phones- and who doesn't these days - are getting warnings about a potentially dangerous practice that could cause electric shock.
The alerts are spreading like wildfire through email, partly because you're being urged to forward the warnings to your friends and family.
The subject lines read: "Don't ever do this - phone charging" and "Don't answer cell phone while it's charging!"
Graphic photos on the e-mail immediately grab your attention, showing badly burned, swollen fingers and charred bedding -- the supposed results of a man answering his cell phone as it was charging in an electrical outlet.
That's pretty frightening stuff. But it's not true.
The hoax dates back to 2004 and reportedly originated in India. Over the years the details have been modified. Hoax detectives say the pictures were added later from an unrelated incident.
But think about it. Every day, millions of people plug in their charging devices, attach their cell phones and take incoming calls- And nothing happens!
"It's simply not enough current to cause any kind of explosion or severe burn," said KOMO's Director of Engineering John Barrett.
Barrett and his engineering team are familiar with the hoax and warn people not to be fooled.
The transformers that charge our cell phone batteries do not produce enough electricity to cause major burns or shock because you answer a charging phone.
As long as your phone is a legitimate model and not counterfeit, and you're using a legal, compatible charger in a properly functioning electrical outlet, there's no problem.
"Not a chance," said Barrett. "It will ruin itself before it would hurt you."
Don't pass it on. Check it out.
Next time you get an e-mail alert about anything, urging you to pass it along check it out on Web sites that routinely track these things:
• Snopes.com
• Hoax-Slayer.com
• UrbanLegends.com
In most cases, you'll find the email you've received is either exaggerated rumor, only partly true, or not true at all.
One tip our engineers say you should pass along: don't leave your charger - it's technically called a transformer - plugged into the outlet when it's not attached to your phone.
When the phone is detached, the transformer can't do anything with that 120 volts coming in, and that can kill your charger prematurely.
The alerts are spreading like wildfire through email, partly because you're being urged to forward the warnings to your friends and family.
The subject lines read: "Don't ever do this - phone charging" and "Don't answer cell phone while it's charging!"
Graphic photos on the e-mail immediately grab your attention, showing badly burned, swollen fingers and charred bedding -- the supposed results of a man answering his cell phone as it was charging in an electrical outlet.
That's pretty frightening stuff. But it's not true.
The hoax dates back to 2004 and reportedly originated in India. Over the years the details have been modified. Hoax detectives say the pictures were added later from an unrelated incident.
But think about it. Every day, millions of people plug in their charging devices, attach their cell phones and take incoming calls- And nothing happens!
"It's simply not enough current to cause any kind of explosion or severe burn," said KOMO's Director of Engineering John Barrett.
Barrett and his engineering team are familiar with the hoax and warn people not to be fooled.
The transformers that charge our cell phone batteries do not produce enough electricity to cause major burns or shock because you answer a charging phone.
As long as your phone is a legitimate model and not counterfeit, and you're using a legal, compatible charger in a properly functioning electrical outlet, there's no problem.
"Not a chance," said Barrett. "It will ruin itself before it would hurt you."
Don't pass it on. Check it out.
Next time you get an e-mail alert about anything, urging you to pass it along check it out on Web sites that routinely track these things:
• Snopes.com
• Hoax-Slayer.com
• UrbanLegends.com
In most cases, you'll find the email you've received is either exaggerated rumor, only partly true, or not true at all.
One tip our engineers say you should pass along: don't leave your charger - it's technically called a transformer - plugged into the outlet when it's not attached to your phone.
When the phone is detached, the transformer can't do anything with that 120 volts coming in, and that can kill your charger prematurely.
