PEOPLE who have unwrapped a brand new phone under the Christmas tree have been warned of a common mistake that can be extremely dangerous.

Whether you're using an old charging cable or buying some new ones online, the wrong choice could lead to an explosion or electrocution.

Some 1.8million phone chargers are bought online in the UK each year, according to the Electrical Safety First charity.

And while it may be tempting to buy a cheap one you should think twice as counterfeit chargers can be deadly.

The charity has tested a number of fake chargers and discovered that almost all of them (98 per cent) had the potential to cause a lethal electric shock or start a fire.

Not only is it potentially deadly, but it can kill your Android device or iPhone too.

They also tend to be weaker, meaning it'll take longer to recharge your phone.

Electrical Safety First claims that unsafe devices are often made in China for as little as 3p.

These usually have poor quality components and can be missing essential parts like a fuse.

A genuine iPhone charger has more than 60 components in it but fakes can be found with less than half of that.

"Fake chargers can cause devices to overheat and even explode, totalling your phone - and possibly causing you serious injury in the process," the charity warns.

"The poor quality components that are often used in fake chargers can lead to electrocution, frying you phone's inner workings and leaving you pretty frazzled too."

They suggest checking whether you can plug it into the wall properly first and foremost - if it won't fit in adequately it could be that the pins are the wrong size and therefore dangerous.

You should also look for important details like a brand name or logo, a model and batch number, and the CE or UKCA mark which all trusted electronic accessories have.

However, don't rely on a CE or UKCA mark alone as a guarantee of safety as it can be easily forged.

People should check that the voltage and current rating match that of your phone too.

"A third of people who bought an electrical fake, purchased the product from an online marketplace," Electrical Safety First says.

"Electrical Safety First recommends buying from a retailer that you trust, either direct from the manufacturer's website or a trusted High Street name - the products they sell will meet the correct safety standards but if something does go wrong, you can return the product for repair or a refund."