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May 10, 2005 - Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL) is notifying inspection authorities, retailers, and consumers that certain 9, 12 and 15-foot extension cords bear counterfeit UL Listing Marks on the cord and/or packaging, do not meet UL safety requirements and pose a risk of fire and electric shock.

Name of Product: 9, 12 or 15-foot extension cord.

Units: Unknown quantity.

Manufacturer: The manufacturer of these products has not been identified.

Hazard: These products employ undersized electrical wires, posing a risk of fire and electric shock. In addition, the cord, plug and receptacle have not been evaluated by UL.

Identification: The cord is white or off-white in color with a plug on one end and a three-plug receptacle on the opposite end. The cord may have a counterfeit UL holographic label attached near the plug that has the description "E-174825," "CORD SET," "BV-5508" and "13A 125 V" and "1625 W" or "1825 W."

The orange, black, yellow and blue packaging is marked "HOME ELECTRICAL PRODUCTS," with the words "Made in China" and a counterfeit UL Listing Mark. The packaging may also have the trademark "POWER" on the label.

What you should do: UL recommends that users stop using the extension cords immediately and return them to the place of purchase.