Sydney - Australian authorities issued a warning about cheap, non-compliant USB-style chargers on Friday after a young woman died from apparent electrocution while using a laptop and possibly a smartphone.The 28-year-old was found wearing headphones and with her computer in her lap with burns on her chest and ears at a home in Gosford, north of Sydney, in April.

Police are still investigating the circumstances of the death but the Department of Fair Trading, which has assisted with the case, suggested a sub-standard mobile phone charger could be to blame.The woman, whom reports said was from the Philippines but had recently become an Australian citizen, had headphones plugged into her laptop, which was connected to a power socket to charge.

"The phone was also plugged into a USB-style charger. That charger had failed," said Lynelle Collins from the New South Wales Department of Fair Trading."Somehow power from that charger has connected to her body. Whether she had it (the phone) to her ear or was holding it in her hand, we don't know."

Fair Trading said it had removed a number of unapproved and non-compliant USB-style chargers, travel adaptors and power boards from sale in Sydney after the death.They said the devices did not meet essential safety requirements and were often made of inferior plastics and other insulation materials.

Maximum penalties for selling devices that fail Australian standards are A$87 500 ($82 500) and/or two years imprisonment for an individual and a A$875 000 fine for a corporation.


The woman's death is the only known fatality in Australia potentially linked with the chargers, but a report from China in 2013 suggested a woman was electrocuted while making a call on a phone that was charging.

http://m.news24.com/fin24/Tech/News/Woman-dies-while-using-cheap-USB-charger-20140627

Most times high-value stuffs are just worth it.
https://www.nairaland.com/1809667/19k-galaxy-s2-c-pix#24631423

And this kind of chargers can drain ones ba3 when plugged to get charged. Lol.