UK safety watchdog warns holidaymakers over 'highly dangerous' travel adaptors sold on Amazon, eBay, AliExpress and TikTok Shop

Electrical Safety First (ESF) purchased 14 travel adaptors from AliExpress, eBay, Amazon Marketplace and TikTok Shop and put them through a battery of safety checks. Every single device failed, with the worst offenders presenting a risk of serious electric shock or electrocution. The charity said more than 10,000 of the unsafe adaptors may have already been sold to UK shoppers, based on publicly visible sales data.

What the tests found

In six of the eight universal travel adaptors examined, more than one set of plug pins could be exposed and live at the same time while the device was plugged in. A user touching those pins could receive a shock of up to 240 volts, and in the most serious circumstances, for example with wet hands, the outcome could be fatal. All eight universal adaptors also failed dimensional and mechanical strength requirements, meaning pins could snap off inside a socket. ESF warned that anyone instinctively trying to retrieve a broken pin would risk electric shock. Six basic travel adaptors were found to lack safety shutters that prevent contact with live internal parts, were missing fuses, had oversized pin holes making it easier to touch live components, or accepted three-pin plugs without providing an earth connection. Four universal and two basic adaptors were sent to an external specialist laboratory for fire-resistance and flammability testing; all six failed.

Consumer reviews flagged red flags

Online reviews viewed by ESF added to the alarm. A user on Amazon Marketplace reported that a device "fell apart in their hands" and they "could have been electrocuted" if it had happened while plugged in. On AliExpress, a reviewer claimed a universal travel adaptor exploded during use.

Shopping for your holiday getaway should be an enjoyable experience, not one that puts you at serious risk. Shoppers in the UK shouldn't have to question whether the products they buy might put them at risk, yet our investigation shows that dangerous electrical goods are still finding their way into people's homes through online marketplaces.

Online marketplaces respond

All four platforms said the flagged products have been removed. Amazon stated it requires all products to comply with applicable laws and its own policies, and that it addresses issues immediately when automated checks miss them. AliExpress told the BBC it had taken down the adaptors identified by ESF, is contacting affected customers to initiate a recall, and has launched a wider review of universal travel adaptor listings where all plug pins are shown extended at the same time, a characteristic it said it will restrict until sellers correct it. eBay said it combines technology, artificial-intelligence-supported monitoring and specialist teams to maintain a safe marketplace, adding that its efforts prevent millions of potentially unsafe items from being listed each year. TikTok said it robustly enforces its policies and removes 99.5% of violative products before they are listed.

What looks like a bargain could come at a much higher cost. We urge Brits heading abroad this summer to think before they buy and only purchase travel adaptors from reputable retailers.

Calls for stronger government action

ESF believes the government must do more to hold online sellers to account. Capanna said shopping in the UK is currently far too dangerous, arguing that platforms claim customer safety is a priority but perpetually fail to prevent dangerous goods from reaching consumers. The charity is urging holidaymakers to buy adaptors only from trusted high-street retailers or directly from recognised electrical brands.