90% of Apple chargers sold on Amazon could be counterfeit, Apple says in lawsuit

Buying an Apple charger on Amazon? Watch out.

Up to 90 percent of "genuine" Apple chargers sold on Amazon could be counterfeit, Apple has alleged in a new lawsuit against a manufacturer of the products.

Apple filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against Mobile Star LLC on Monday. The company makes Apple charging products, including Apple chargers and lightning cables that Apple said pose "a risk to the public."

The counterfeit chargers can catch fire, Apple says in its suit, citing Amazon reviews.

The lawsuit states:

Consumers, relying on Amazon.com's reputation, have no reason to suspect the power products they purchased from Amazon.com are anything but genuine. This is particularly true where, as here, the products are sold directly 'by Amazon.com' as genuine Apple products using Apple's own product marketing images. Consumers are likewise unaware that the counterfeit Apple products that Amazon.com sourced from Mobile Star have not been safety certified or properly constructed, lack adequate insulation and/or have inadequate spacing between low voltage and high voltage circuits, and pose a significant risk of overheating, fire, and electrical shock.

Apple filed its lawsuit after buying the chargers on Amazon, the suit says. Apple said it buys items labeled as Apple products on Amazon each month to check for counterfeit models, and consistently found extreme levels of counterfeits.

"Over the last nine months, Apple, as part of its ongoing brand protection efforts, has purchased well over 100 iPhone devices, Apple power products, and Lightning cables sold as genuine by sellers on Amazon.com and delivered through Amazon's 'Fulfillment by Amazon' program," the lawsuit states. "Apple's internal examination and testing for these products revealed almost 90 percent of these products are counterfeit."

According to the lawsuit, Amazon turned over its inventory of the products to Apple after hearing Apple's findings.

Even though Apple is suing the manufacturer here, Amazon still had a role. The products were sold directly by Amazon, not only by third-party sellers.

In a statement to 9to5Mac, Amazon said it "has zero tolerance for the sale of counterfeits on our site. We work closely with manufacturers and brands, and pursue wrongdoers aggressively."