The next time you are shopping for an Apple accessory on Amazon, know that there is a very, very good chance that what you are buying could be a fake. This is what Apple is claiming in a lawsuit that they are filing against accessory maker Mobile Star and 50 other unnamed defendants.
According to the lawsuit, Apple alleges that 9 out of 10 of Apple accessories that are sold on Amazon are fakes, meaning that if you’ve shopped on Amazon recently for that Lightning cable or charger, you could have unknowingly bought a product that has not been authorized by Apple which the company claims could be dangerous.
The lawsuit reads, “Apple makes great efforts to combat the distribution and sale of counterfeit Apple products bearing its trademarks. Despite Apple’s efforts, fake Apple products continue to flood Amazon.com.” Apple notes that fake accessories have the potential to be dangerous as it could lead to devices overheating, catching on fire, or delivering a deadly electric shock.
We have seen in the past on how dangerous unauthorized chargers can be, so it’s not as if Apple’s claims are without merit. Now this isn’t to say that it’s no longer safe to shop on Amazon, you just need to be smarter about it. Obviously purchasing an official accessory is the best way to go, although it can be expensive. An alternative would be to buy from well-known Apple accessory makers who have been authorized by the company to make them.