A recent survey by Electrical Safety First (ESF) found nearly four in ten (37 per cent) people are using online marketplaces to compare prices in a bid to get the best deals as the cost-of-living crisis bites.
But a new investigation by the charity has revealed that people are more at risk of buying dangerous products online than ever before.
ESF investigated listings of electrical goods across five leading online marketplaces, including Amazon Marketplace, eBay, Facebook Marketplace, AliExpress and Wish.com. It found more than 50 listings of products for use all over the home, from the driveway to the kitchen, were unsafe.
One EV charging cable purchased from eBay presented a risk of electric shock and overheating when it was tested by a specialist lab. Two other EV charging cables purchased from Amazon Marketplace also failed electric shock tests.
As households continue to grapple with soaring heating bills, ESF found that potentially lethal heaters...