Fake Electricity-Saving Plug Still Duping Buyers in 2026
Fraudulent electricity-saving plugs claiming to cut bills by 30–90% continue deceiving Thai consumers despite expert warnings, with authorities confirming the devices—often containing just a capacitor or LED—pose fire risks and deliver no e
A Facebook user asked in a homemaking group whether a plug-in device her husband bought actually saves electricity after he claimed it cuts bills. Later, Associate Professor Jetsada Denboriband, a biology lecturer at Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Science, shared the post and expressed surprise that fake electricity-saving boxes are still being sold in 2026.
Investigation shows that electricity-saving plugs or outlet adapters marketed online as capable of reducing bills by 30–90% do not work as advertised and are pure consumer fraud. They typically contain only a small capacitor or a single LED bulb, leaving buyers out of pocket and at risk of electrical fires.
Fact-checking website Cofact reports that these scam products continue to flood online sales platforms despite warnings from the Provincial Electricity Authority and experts. When asked, Dr. Suppan Tiptipakorn, head of the electrical engineering department at Mahidol University, confirmed there is no credible academic evidence or test results from trusted agencies showing such products can reduce home electricity consumption as claimed. Consumer protection organizations in multiple countries have tested these devices and found they do not reduce energy use as advertised, warning that non-standard products may pose safety hazards.
