Amazon recalls thousands of power strips that could spark and start a fire
You might want to check that power strip under your desk, doing the heavy lifting for your laptop, charger, lamp, and maybe one questionable extra plug. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, thousands of power strips sold on Amazon are being recalled after reports that they can spark, melt, and potentially start a fire.
The recall involves CCCEI-branded power strips sold by Middle Way Electronics.
The problem is internal, as these strips don’t have supplementary overcurrent protection, which is basically the safety feature that prevents overheating when you plug in too many devices.
Without it, your setup can go from “charging station” to “fire risk” pretty quickly.
How to tell if yours is affected
The recalled units were sold between April 2024 and January 2026. They typically have a black metal body, six outlets with individual switches, and cord lengths of 6, 10, or 15 feet. They also have a label warning about indoor use and electrical shock.
If those sound like what you’ve seen before, it is worth taking a second look.
And if you think you have one, stop using it. That’s the official guidance. You can contact the manufacturer for a refund, but the main thing is to unplug it immediately.
Beware of scammers
It is also important to note that scammers are already jumping on this.
Fake “Amazon recall” texts and emails are circulating, trying to get people to click links and hand over personal info. The real recall is legit, but not every message about it is. In one reported case, a message claimed to be an official recall notice, even including a suspicious refund link. As you can already guess, it was not real.
So, if you get a notification, be very careful about the links you click. If you have to, check directly in your Amazon account first or verify through official sources like the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
No amount of double-checking is too much. Because the devices we trust to power everything in our homes are only as safe as the parts inside them. And sometimes, the difference between “working fine” and “serious risk” is one missing component you’d never even see.
