Here’s the deal, using unauthorized third-party chargers is not good for your phone. We’ve seen evidence where unauthorized chargers can actually damage the internal components of your phone, but more importantly there could be immediate dangers, like electrocution or even the catching of fire.
That being said, it seems that there have been a spate of incidents over in Israel where it has been reported that several Samsung Galaxy S4 units have been catching on fire. This was reported by a local newspaper, Yedioth Ahronoth, which is said to be the most widely read newspaper in the country.
According to their report, thousands of Galaxy S4 units have been experiencing the swollen battery issue, with as many as 20 units actually catching on fire. This was reported by a company called Scailex, an import company that is responsible for bringing the phones into the country.
However they note that these are problems associated with units produced before January 2014, so if you purchased a new Galaxy S4 recently, you could be safe. According to a statement issued by Samsung, “We are aware that there have been a small number of burning cases of the Galaxy S4 in Israel. All of the incidents examined so far have been attributed to the use of unauthorized batteries or the application of external shock or heat.”