After a death, Apple tells Chinese to only ...

The company posted the guidance on its site after a woman was allegedly electrocuted while answering a call on her iPhone.

(Credit: Apple)

Apple has a warning for Chinese customers: don't use the fake stuff.

Apple has posted a warning on its Chinese Web site urging customers to only use its official chargers with any of its products. To help its customers with that, Apple showed them how to identify a real charger from the company, as opposed to a fake alternative.

The posting comes after a Chinese woman was allegedly electrocuted after answering her iPhone. Apple expressed sadness over her death and promised to fully investigate the matter. Although the company has yet to issue a statement, its hope that customers will use a legitimate charger might be telling.

Last week, reports surfaced in China that suggested the woman, Ma Ailun, might have been using a third-party charger when her iPhone 4 that was designed to look like the real thing. Although third-party chargers are often used in the mobile space, they vary widely in terms of safety and quality.

Earlier this year, safety science company UL issued a warning to consumers, saying that counterfeit Apple USB chargers were making the rounds, and they should be on the lookout for them due to their lower quality and possibly dangerous defects.