Buying smart phone accessories can sometimes be more complicated than it should be. Knock-offs can be found anywhere from physical stores to online retailers and sometimes it is difficult to determine the quality of the product. Now experts are urging Apple users to look for the MFi symbol sticker when buying their chargers. MFi stand for Made for iPhone, iPad and iPod, and would ensure that the product you are about to purchase is safe and original.

There is undeniable appeal in buying fake Apple chargers, of course, when you look at the fact that they are much cheaper than the original chargers. However, the use of fake chargers could cause serious problems as they are seen to have failed 99 percent of basic safety tests. That is an extremely relevant number as the use of fake Apple chargers have been blamed for fires, electrocutions and even death.

The Dangers of Using Fake Apple Chargers

Many reports of shocking incidents concerning fake Apple chargers in recent years. Though some have reported having problems with the phone’s battery itself, the number is higher and the cases more severe when it comes to the damages brought upon by the use of fake chargers.

One of the more such disturbing cases is that of a woman in China who died of electrocution after answering her iPhone 5 while it was charging. Another similar incident happened in England when a man was thrown across the room and was left with blackened fingertips after attempting to unplug an iPad that had been charging. The man survived and found it fortunate that it had been him who touched the dangerous charger instead of his young child.

Other incidents include an iPhone 4s spontaneously combusting and melting, a house fire that allegedly resulted from the battery of a MacBook and the death of an Australian woman who also suffered severe burns while she was using her phone and laptop. The list goes on and on and many incidents are not even reported, but the warning remains that fake chargers are a definite hazard.

How to Spot a Fake Apple Lightning Charger

The first and most obvious sign that the charger you are buying is most likely fake is if it does not have the MFi sticker. Further, if it is significantly cheaper, chances are it is fake. After all, this is the very reason why many individuals opt to buy the fake chargers instead of the original ones. Other signs that the product might not be genuine is if the metal bit of the charger are shinier than they should be as original chargers have a matte texture to them. Further, original chargers tend to be heavier than the fake ones.

When in doubt, it would be advisable to simply go straight to a reputable store or directly to the Apple store to buy your product. It may be more expensive, but it’s still definitely cheaper than a trip to the hospital.

Exploding iPhones?

There have been reports of iPhones spontaneously combusting or exploding recently. Such is the case for an Australian surfer whose iPhone 7 caught fire inside his car even if the man claims he has never used a third party charger nor dropped the phone as only had it for a week before the incident. A similar incident happened to a cyclist who was thrown from his bike after the iPhone 6 in his pocket exploded. In light of the Galaxy 7 reports of exploding smart phones, investigations regarding the matter are already underway, though Apple hopes that these are simply isolated incidents.

For now, basic safety measures when using your gadgets are recommended, and the use of only genuine products is a very relevant part in keeping yourselves and your homes safe.