I have always had a hard time believing that fake phones exist until I came across a copy of a fake iPhone Xs which looks exactly like an original one I had used sometime back. With over 2.5 billion smartphone users globally, it’s no surprise that this arena is now a huge area of interest for counterfeiting operations.
And, as we are all connected, the dangers are more pronounced than ever. We reported in July this year about Uganda Communication Commissions(UCC) being in the final stages of switching off fake phones. According to their reports in 2014, it was estimated that nearly 40% of all active phones were fake.
Worldwide, it is estimated that counterfeits account for a loss of €45.3 billion in revenue, with 184 million fake phones sold each year. Apart from financial loss, fake phones exposed users to radiofrequency radiations that exposes serious health threats.
Counterfeit(fake) phones are copies of popular brands and models made from substandard materials and let’s discuss the dangers that come along with using them.
Health and safety dangers
Before they can be sold in each market, all models of genuine phones are tested to ensure they are safe for users, including testing to make sure they meet national and international standards for exposure to radiofrequency emissions.
All mobile phone batteries and chargers must undergo the same stringent testing to ensure they meet all levels of safety. Genuine mobile phone batteries are tested under intense conditions to ensure they can handle varying conditions of use.
Counterfeit and substandard mobile phones, batteries and chargers, on the other hand, are not subjected to such comprehensive testing and, therefore, the safety of fake phones cannot be verified or guaranteed.
There have been many media reports around the world of incidents of mobile phone batteries exploding and injuring people. Upon investigation, these incidents have been linked back to the use of counterfeit or substandard batteries.
Environmental dangers
Fake phones, batteries and chargers are made from cheap, substandard components and may contain chemicals that are dangerous to the environment and your health.
The cheap and low-quality components used to manufacture fake phones and accessories are untested, uncertified and can be a safety hazard for users. The substandard components in fake phones often malfunction, with the potential to injure users and damage property.
Fake phones can also contain dangerous chemicals and metals, such as lead and mercury. These are associated with a range of adverse health effects. They can also be harmful to the environment if they end up in landfills.
Network disruption
Have you ever been on the phone with someone and you hear some strange noise in the background like someone is in a house with a grinding machine? Or your phone refuses to show network bars in some locations and you fail to receive calls.
Well, it’s believed fake phones are a drain on mobile phone networks, reducing network speed and reception for users.
Some of them have an unpredictably short lifecycle, thus prompting the user to incur extra costs during replacement. Although fake phones might spot a tantalising cheap price tag, the unforeseen trouble lies in their durability.
Testing has shown that counterfeit and substandard phones experience high levels of signal/call failure in many areas where a genuine phone would be able to make and receive calls.
