“The following safety tips provided by Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) can help people identify and avoid these fraudulent products:
Scrutinize labels and packaging. Product packaging and warning labels offer a valuable source of information. Make sure that labels and packaging are free of grammatical errors and that any information provided is consistent with information elsewhere on the package.
Avoid products that lack any identifying brand label or affiliation. Make sure that the name and contact information of the product manufacturer are clearly displayed on the packaging or the product. If this information is missing, then consider an alternative product or retailer.
Trust your instincts. Beware of bargains that seem too good to be true. Counterfeiters often skimp on materials and key-manufacturing steps to cut costs, allowing them to be sold at prices no genuine brand manufacturer can match.
Be proactive. Organizations such as the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Underwriters Laboratories (UL) provide up-to-date information about product recalls on their Web sites. Working together to promote education and awareness, we can help to prevent the devastating electrical injuries, fatalities, and fires that are being caused by counterfeit electrical products.
To learn more about the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) and counterfeit electrical products, visit www.esfi.org.”