EGG HARBOR TWP.--This is a consumer alert you can't afford to ignore. We have all heard of impostor handbags and fragrances, but now there is a scary new scandal some of us have already fallen for. Counterfeit electrical products have become all too common in the deep discount market place, except with this purchase, you could lose more than you save.

"This can burn your house down instantly." It's a scenario that's become a reality all too often because of a bargain consumers can't pass up. Officials tell us not all electronic devices are created equal. "Absolutely not," said Brett Brenner, President of the Electric Safety Foundation International, "we find these in deep discount stores, what they're called is counterfeit electrical products. They can be extension cords, hair dryers, curling irons, even clothes irons."

These fraudulent products are disasters waiting to happen, and many people have purchased them without even knowing. "You have to be very careful," said Brenner, "make sure you're purchasing from a legitimate retailer, stay away from the off-brand places and make sure you don't go to flea markets."

Undetected counterfeit products, like holiday lights, extension cords, and hair dryers can cause fires, shocks, explosions, and electrocutions. When buying these kinds of items, be sure to look for three basic labels, UL, CSA, or ETL. "A lot of times these are holograms to help stop the counterfeiting, so these aren't knocked off as often," said Brenner.

Another good way to determine is an extension cord is legit is simply by examining it. A counterfeit cord will be flimsy, that's because it's made of sub-standard materials. A safe cord contains enough copper that it will be somewhat sturdy. "When you can buy something for a dollar and the copper alone in the device is worth more than a dollar, it's a big warning sign," said Brenner.

Officials say the biggest way to avoid buying fire-prone phonies is to use common sense. If a bargain seems too good to be true, more than likely, it is.

For more information about counterfeit electrical products, click here.