Have you ever bought a $5 (or similarly priced) micro-SD card or a thumb drive whose capacity was advertised as 128, 256, 512 Gb, or even 1-2 Tb, and your computer even showed it as such? And then you happily copied your files over — or worse, you used such a card in your camera — and then you discovered that all the data is corrupt and lost?
Fake USB memory sticks and fake memory cards are massively being sold on Ebay and Aliexpress by fraudulent Chinese sellers and/or manufacturers. They claim to have hundreds of gigabytes or even a few terabytes of capacity, but they’re actually in an 8Gb ballpark.
Tip: you can test if a memory card or memory stick is genuine or fake by using a simple free software called H2testw.
So if you try to copy data onto them, you’ll lose almost everything! Imagine all the damage those scammers cause with this! How’s it possible that they still keep going without any restrictions and consequences after all these years?
Scammers Sell Fake Memory Cards & Sticks
The persistence of fake USB memory sticks and fake memory cards on platforms like eBay and AliExpress, despite the clear fraudulent nature of these products, is a frustrating issue that many consumers have encountered. Here’s why these scams continue to thrive:
1. Volume and Anonymity of Sellers
- High Volume of Sellers: Platforms like eBay and AliExpress have millions of sellers. Monitoring and regulating all of them effectively is a massive challenge. Fraudulent sellers can easily set up shop, sell fake products, and then disappear before they can be caught.
- Anonymity: Many of these sellers operate under multiple aliases or change their names frequently. This makes it difficult for the platforms to track them and enforce long-term bans.
2. Cheap Prices Lure Consumers
- Tempting Prices: These fake products are often sold at prices that are too good to be true, which entices buyers who are looking for a bargain. The low price can make some buyers skeptical, but others are willing to take the risk, hoping they’re getting a good deal.
- High Demand: There’s a constant demand for cheap storage, and fraudulent sellers exploit this by offering seemingly high-capacity drives at incredibly low prices.
3. Limited Platform Regulation
- Inconsistent Enforcement: Although platforms like eBay and AliExpress have policies against counterfeit goods, enforcement is inconsistent. They rely heavily on user reports to identify scams, but many buyers only realize they’ve been scammed long after the transaction.
- Lack of Proactive Measures: These platforms often react to issues rather than proactively preventing them. Scammers take advantage of this reactive approach, getting in and out before significant actions can be taken.
4. Global Jurisdiction Challenges
- Jurisdictional Issues: These platforms operate globally, but legal jurisdictions vary. Sellers based in countries with lax enforcement against counterfeit goods face little to no repercussions, making it easy for them to continue their operations.
- Cross-Border Challenges: Pursuing legal action or even enforcing platform policies across borders is difficult and expensive. This complexity allows counterfeit operations to flourish in certain regions.
5. Limited Consumer Awareness
- Lack of Awareness: Many consumers are not tech-savvy and might not understand that a 1TB USB stick for $10 is almost certainly fake. Scammers exploit this lack of knowledge.
- Delayed Realization: Often, the realization that the product is fake comes too late—after the seller has already moved on or the buyer’s opportunity to leave a negative review or request a refund has passed.
6. Fraudulent Practices and Manipulated Listings
- Manipulated Reviews: Some sellers manipulate their listings by posting fake positive reviews, making their products appear legitimate. They may also use bots to inflate their ratings or temporarily sell genuine products to build trust before switching to fakes.
- Misleading Descriptions: The product descriptions are often misleading, using technical jargon that confuses buyers. They might also use phrases like “up to X GB” to suggest that the device has a higher capacity than it actually does.
Why It Continues
- Profitable for Scammers: The scam remains profitable for sellers who face minimal consequences. Even if a few buyers file complaints, the majority don’t, either because they don’t realize they’ve been scammed or because the amount of money lost doesn’t seem worth the hassle.
- Platform Incentives: While platforms do remove fraudulent listings when reported, they also earn commissions on sales. This can sometimes create a conflict of interest, where the immediate financial gain from sales overshadows the long-term damage to reputation.
What Can Be Done?
- Consumer Education: Educating consumers about the risks of buying too-good-to-be-true storage devices is crucial. Tech forums, YouTube channels, and consumer protection agencies often try to spread awareness.
- Improved Platform Policies: Platforms need to invest more in AI and machine learning tools to detect and remove counterfeit listings more proactively.
- Stronger Legal Actions: International cooperation in cracking down on counterfeit goods could help reduce the prevalence of these scams, though this is a complex and long-term effort.
The situation persists largely due to a combination of high seller turnover, low platform enforcement, and the continual demand for cheap tech. While efforts are made to curb these fraudulent activities, they are often slow-moving, allowing scammers to stay a step ahead.
How To Avoid Fake Memory Cards and Sticks?
Testing whether a memory card is genuine or fake is crucial to avoid data loss and financial waste. Here’s a guide on how to test flash memory and tips on avoiding buying fake products in the first place:
1. Testing the Memory Card:
a. Use Specialized Software:
- H2testw (Windows): This is a widely used tool that writes data to the entire memory capacity and then reads it back to verify. If the card is fake, the software will report errors when it tries to write or read beyond the actual capacity.
- How to Use: Download and install H2testw. Select the drive corresponding to your memory card, and choose the option to “Write + Verify.” The process can take some time, but it’s thorough.
- FakeFlashTest (Windows): Similar to H2testw, but quicker because it only checks for fake capacity by writing small test files across the drive.
- How to Use: Install FakeFlashTest, select your drive, and start the test. It’s faster but less detailed than H2testw.
- F3 (Fight Flash Fraud) (Mac/Linux): An open-source alternative to H2testw for Mac and Linux users.
- How to Use: Use the terminal to install and run F3, which works similarly by filling the card with data and reading it back.
b. Check the Reported Capacity:
- Windows Explorer or Disk Utility (Mac): Check the properties of the drive in your operating system. Right-click the drive and select “Properties” (Windows) or use Disk Utility (Mac) to see the capacity. If it shows an unusually high capacity for a very low price, it’s likely fake.
c. Perform a Speed Test:
- CrystalDiskMark (Windows) or Blackmagic Disk Speed Test (Mac): Run a speed test on the memory card. If the speed is significantly lower than advertised (especially the write speed), it might be a fake or low-quality product.
d. Visual Inspection:
- Check the Packaging: Genuine cards from reputable brands have high-quality packaging. Look for spelling errors, poor print quality, or generic-looking packaging.
- Inspect the Card Itself: Compare the physical appearance of the card to images on the official manufacturer’s website. Fakes often have subtle differences, such as in logos, font sizes, or even the color of the plastic.
2. Avoiding Fake Flash Memory:
a. Buy from Reputable Sellers:
- Official Stores: Purchase directly from the official stores of brands like SanDisk, Samsung, Kingston, etc., either on their websites or through their official accounts on platforms like Amazon.
- Authorized Retailers: Look for authorized retailers listed on the manufacturer’s website. These retailers are less likely to sell fake products.
b. Be Wary of Prices That Are Too Good to Be True:
- Research Market Prices: Before purchasing, research the typical price range for the memory capacity you’re looking at. If you find a 1TB card for a fraction of the normal price, it’s almost certainly fake.
c. Check Reviews and Seller Ratings:
- Read Recent Reviews: Focus on recent reviews, particularly negative ones, to see if there are complaints about the card being fake. Also, check the seller’s overall rating.
- Look for Verified Purchases: Prioritize reviews from verified purchases, as these are more likely to be genuine.
d. Buy Locally if Possible:
- Local Retailers: Buying from a local, reputable electronics store can reduce the risk of ending up with a fake. It’s easier to return or exchange the product if it turns out to be fraudulent.
e. Avoiding Certain Platforms:
- High-Risk Platforms: Be cautious when buying from high-risk platforms like AliExpress, eBay, or other third-party marketplaces, especially from sellers with limited feedback or from listings with suspiciously low prices.
f. Check the Product Code or Serial Number:
- Verify on Manufacturer’s Website: Some manufacturers allow you to check the product code or serial number online to confirm authenticity. If the code doesn’t match, the card is fake.
3. After Purchase:
- Test Immediately: After buying a memory card, test it immediately using the methods described above. If it’s fake, return it as soon as possible and report the seller.
By following these steps, you can greatly reduce the risk of buying fake memory cards and ensure that you’re getting what you paid for.
