Gov’t Urging Customers to Power Down All Samsung Note7 Phones

The U.S. government agency charged with product safety is urging consumers to power down and stop using all Galaxy Note7 smartphones — whether they are a replacement or original.

In recent days, reports have surfaced of Note7 replacement devices — given or sold to consumers after original Note7s were found to have a defect that caused them to overheat and in some cases catch fire — overheating and smoking.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has launched an investigation into the incidents involving the new, supposedly defect-free phones.

In the meantime, the four top cellular providers in the U.S. have halted sales and exchanges of the phones. Samsung said today that it is asking all carriers and retailers around the world to stop sales and exchanges of Note7 devices as the CPSC investigation moves forward.

Samsung also urged consumers to power down and stop using their devices.

ABC News’ Daniel Steinberger contributed to this report.

This is a developing story and will be updated.