I was being cautious because there have been a few fakes higher than 4GB – rare, but it happens occasionally. The fact is that most fakes are actually 2GB or less. We have seen fakes with 256MB (or even less) sold as as 32GB and over.

I haven’t tried RMPREPUSB myself so can’t comment on this suggestion. You are right about saying that to report a fake to sosfakeflash buyers should provide test results from h2testw – we consider this the gold standard in checking flash memory.

H2testw not only reveals fakes but can also give an indication of low quality memory items that are likely to fail once you have used them for a while.

Based on what I have a read on this site – most of the fake flash drives have a fake flash drives have a “real capacity” of less that 4GB. Recent post have indicated real sizes as small as 256MB!.

5GB partial test should be adequate and catch most of the fakes. If h2testw shows no errors try 9GB.

For a quick test you may want to give RMPREPUSB a try. When reporting your fake drive to this blog you should include the output of h2testw.

With fakes containing very small capacity memory chips in a device programmed to show a very high capacity (for example a device programmed to show 64GB which only actually has a capacity of 1GB) then testing the whole capacity takes forever.

It is not necessary to test the whole capacity of items reporting 32GB and above to the operating system. It is highly unlikely that a fake of over 16GB will have a genuine capacity as high as a quarter of that shown in the drive properties. H2testw gives you the option of testing only part of the drive – testing about a quarter of the reported capacity of anything over 16GB is usually more than enough to establish whether or not it is fake.

if you have a pen drive od 4 gb,
is more easy to put a file of 700 mb 6 or 7 times, and done, if you get 7 files its real 4 gb,
if not then is fake size,

is a bad idea do this ?

“Bad” … not a useful word : doing this would be ineffective.

Some (not all, but some) fake flashes are faked in a sophisticated way so that – for your 4GB case – if a 500MB drive is faked to appear to be a 4GB drive, the controller will write any new data to the chip and overwrite any previous data there. So, you’d get back the last [real chip size] of data from the drive, but the older stuff would be hopelessly lost.
You can imagine what this would do for an otherwise-rational backup strategy.

The files that H2testW writes appear to contain random data. they’re so big that they take ages to open … actually … try this : on a known-good device, set H2testW running but only test a few megs of the device ; you’ll see a 1.h2w file generated ; rename this file to something (“old.file”, whatever) ; then run H2testW again to create a new 1.h2w file in a different location on the device. Open them both (wordpad will open anything, though it baulks at DOS/ windows executables) : the files appear identical, and highly random (ZIP them – a few % shrinkage, if that).

I don’t know what algorithm H2testW uses to generate this data is ; I’d guess that it encodes in some way the offset in the file from the start of the disc, so that it is predictable, and the program can work out from the data it reads where the device starts to malfunction.

There’s some pretty sophisticated thought that’s gone into the design of H2testw. I’ve done manual hard-drive recovery in the past, and I think it’s a pretty good program. Unless you’re sure that you understand data structures, compression algorithms, and the evil tricks that the fakers try better than the programme’s designer does, I’d suggest that you use it. If you are in a position to write something better … the C’t site should allow you to get in contact with the author, and I look forward to the results of your collaboration.

—————————————————————————————————————————————————

I just purchase a Kingston DataTraveler200 of 128Gb, seeing how bad I worked, I began to search the internet help on this and I started to pour into the idea that it was false.
Spend time H2testw and I can not make the results as being a very large capacity takes me about 50 hours for the test.
That is flase, I know, I just want to test the program, done with another 2Gb and I was perfect.

Price lists support what you are saying. Printing costs money but not a lot. Price jumps by size.

http://www.ipromo.com/?fuseaction=product.&productsid=594

and

http://www.ipromo.com/?fuseaction=product.&productsid=134

this last one is the one you show a lot. For 16Gb it costs $40.00 for 25 and $29.50 for 2500.

Where do people get the idea this one can be sold at $30 us for 64gb on ebay?

I don’t work for ipromo guy’s just so you know. You ask for research help.

Thank you for sharing your story.

Insight into local markets is important, we need more stories on what is happening outside of eBay. It seems Kingston counterfeits (with false capacity) are very common in your country – the Kingston name is highly respected.

The HP Tools are useful, but they do not correct the real issue. Usually it tries to reform the flash drive storage chip up to 4GB. The real problem is the little usb controller chip, HP Tools does not fix the falsified information there. Only a correct low level formatting tool for the usb controller chip family can do this.

Perhaps, you could still rescue the item. Visit the fixfakeflash site for details. Opening a Kingston flash drive, counterfeit or not, is not always easy. It must be done very carefully. If you can identify the little square controller chip, you might be able to fix the fake. Vista probably disabled the penstick because the information between the flash storage chip and the flash usb chip no longer agreed with each other.

Any technical Vista people out there? Who might be able to supply moe information to Joao and other readers about the results?

You may find this information(and in the link provided there) helpful:

http://fakeflashnews.wordpress.com/2009/06/15/paypal-telephone-numbers-ebay-fake-flash-usb-flash-drives-mp-players-memory-cards

Looks a bit as though you are confused here. We are not the seller so we don’t have your flash drive. Unfortunately sending fake flash drives back to sellers is usually a huge mistake – often makes it more difficult to get a refund. You need to make a claim against the seller through paypal. We removed your address to protect your privacy.

If it is a small amount (€20 or so) of cash then may not be worth getting all hot and flustered about.

If you do want to pursue it I believe that you can (and should) get your money back.

With PayPal the fact that a case is opened and closed does not mean that you cannot open another case – just put whatever reason from the drop down menu
that it allows and in the description put in the real reason for your commplaint. Or even send an email directly to PayPal if you just cannot navigate
to a link that allows you to open a case/claim.

The fact that this eBay member is no longer trading is pretty suspicious and should go in your favour I should think.

Tim

The first note is about what is said in the package: “64GB DataTraveler 100″. Just with a quick consult at Kingston’s site [http://www.kingston.com/flash/DataTravelers_consumer.asp] we can be advised that the DataTraveler100 pendrives are up to 32GB. Pendrives larger than 32GB are DataTraveler150 and up.
I tried to copy my actual 16GB pendrive to it; apparently I did it, but when I tried to see the files, Vista said there’s nothing to show, despite properties show less free space.

Next, I tried to format it using Vista: no way!

Then, I tried to format it (FAT 32; NTFS didn’t begin) using HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool 2.1.8, without the quick format option: I got zero bytes of used and free space properties and a disabled pendrive.
I’ll proceed with the tests and will inform something new.

is a bad idea do this ?

The Tool: http://www.wortfilter.de/Tools/sellerstats/sellersales.php

I split my 10% donation between the 2.

I will also keep emailing through ebay to suspect scammed members to help.

Thanks again 4 all the help.

James

i love my true work
many present buyers claim back to her money, there I am sure.
what cannot happen the better.
thus we will defeat fakes.

all we need is: negative feedback with buyed and tested mem and also link to my “cya.de/nando”

sample:
my 32gb pmp checked has only 2gb! check your own on cya.de/nando

and the fakeseller will die

The 16 GB stick recieved from on the envelope(

Malim Agus Ekain
Room 1921, Heng Fung House
Heng On Estate,
Shatin, Hongkong

Seller’s ID:
upcomingtrend
Seller’s Email:
uctrend@gmail.com

Seller’s Name:
Seller’s Email: uctrend@gmail.com
Seller’s Transaction ID: 6JG94951SC230631D

(My Dispute to the Seller after H2testw v 1.4)

Hello Your 16 gb USB pen is FAKE see below the test

USB Stick 16 GB Test 30.10.2009
Fehler beim Lesen der Datei ‘J:\14.h2w’, Offset 0×1900000.
(Semaforens timeout-periode er udløbet. Code 121)
Achtung: Nur 15516 von 15984 MByte getestet.
Der Datenträger ist wahrscheinlich defekt.
1,9 GByte OK (4105200 Sektoren)
11,0 GByte DATEN VERLOREN (23208976 Sektoren)
Details:
1,6 GByte überschrieben (3407461 Sektoren)
0 KByte leicht verfälscht (< 8 Bit/Sektor, 0 Sektoren)
9,4 GByte mit Datenmüll (19801515 Sektoren)
23 KByte mehrfach genutzt (46 Sektoren)
Erster Fehler bei Offset: 0×000000005d480000
Soll: 0×000000005d480000
Ist: 0×00000003c9b00000
H2testw Version 1.3
Schreibrate: 2,49 MByte/s
Leserate: 3,73 MByte/s
H2testw v1.4
You have delivered a FAKE Flash, in your selling report
you wrote no return.
Then please US$ 17,50 back, after money back
i will destroid it

(Notice from Paypal)
Step 1 –
Return the item to the seller, at the following address:

32B XiaoFeng Building YunFeng Garden
29# YouYi Road LuoHu District
ShenZhen
GuangDong
518000
China

(as registered Post with tracking code)

Buying from one Adresse, send from another adress and returned to
perhaps a third adress.

I have paid USD 17,50 for the item and the cost for return will be
USD 15,00,I will not return the item….

Paypal have recieved my test and can see it is a FAKE.

That will says that Paypal protect the SELLERS and not the BUYER

The media is likely to be defective.
1.9 GByte OK (4080503 sectors)
29.0 GByte DATA LOST (60933257 sectors)
Details:29.0 GByte overwritten (60933257 sectors)
0 KByte slightly changed (< 8 bit/sector, 0 sectors)
0 KByte corrupted (0 sectors)
2 MByte aliased memory (4096 sectors)
First error at offset: 0×0000000000000000
Expected: 0×0000000000000000
Found: 0×00000007bff6c000
H2testw version 1.3
Writing speed: 2.82 MByte/s
Reading speed: 6.50 MByte/s
H2testw v1.4

Only the first 3,9GB are good (tested with h2testw 1.4), write speed in only 1.5MB/sec (should be class 6)

Ebay reseller: cypress_network

http://cgi.ebay.nl/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=390097090978

Donate Link

You did not find a donate link because one does not exist. We have resisted any financial gain from helping others (not easy to do when times are so hard), but we persist.

If anyone would like to say “thank you” with a small financial offering we suggest:

wordpress.com for making it possible to bring our message to everyone around the world. They offer free hosting, their blogging software is fabulous and their tech support wonderful.

http://wordpress.org/donate/

also toolhaus.org for the wonderful tool they have created to help victims get to the truth about seller feedback. They have a donate button:

http://toolhaus.org/cgi-bin/negs

If anyone is not in a PayPal using mood, just drop a few coins into an outstretched hand that is asking for coffee, tea or a meal.

If you can’t afford anything that is fine too, just offer a smile to a stranger who seems to have a sad or long face (culture permitting).

If you are highly motivated, review our recent alerts, scan feedback for a known fake flash seller and send a few warning messages to buyers to test their items.

Each of us, in our own way can make our world a better place. It begins with one who then become the many. The FrankenFlash project started with just one, concerned for others.

You have already made important contributions James.

You refused to be frauded and fought back. In doing so, you have helped as victims before you have, to make it easier for others to get refunds from PayPal. And you have documented in this article for victims of the present and future to be encouraged.

Once again, thank you!

Why do significant numbers of listing start with 1 bid @ $0.01?

How can this seller make a profit if selling thousands of items for less then $0.10 with free shipping?

Why is there a pattern of a small number of buyers buying hundres of the cheap items?

Thanks,
James

The following email to executiveoffice@paypal.com did the trick……

*********************************************************************

PLEASE LIVE UP TO YOUR CLAIMS OF BUYER PROTECTION!

Nov ##, #### ##:##:## PM, #########@verizon.net wrote:

Paypal/Ebay,

First off, let me thank you for retracting your order to return obvious,

and known, fraudulent/digitally altered goods to the seller.
That’s a step in the right direction for your company since doing so
would be breaking the law.
Now as far as me having it appraised at MY cost, I am not willing to
throw good money at bad.
It would cost me near as much as the items cost, to have them evaluated
and documented by a third party, so I would lose anyway.
The program I used, H2testw 1.4 **IS** the third party, (and is also
considered the *GOLD STANDARD* for testing/evaluating
fraudulent/digitally altered memory
devices)
with the test results as the **PROOF**

In the past, when we have sold an item in good faith (even AS-IS items)
and the customer has complained about something,
we have refunded the ENTIRE cost including shipping and allowed the
person to keep the item just to maintain our good name/standing.
It may have cost us some money but we felt it was the RIGHT thing to do.

Maybe we are the exception, and not the rule, but as they say…The
Customer is always right!
Well, I am an Ebay/Paypal customer.

**PLEASE** refund my money as guaranteed by your so called, “buyer
protection program”.

It is about time that Paypal started to protect the innocent buyer and
not support fraudsters. You only have to google this problem to realise
that it is common place and you are doing absolutely nothing to stop it.
Please pull your finger out and stop sending automated replies that do
absolutely nothing for the buyers confidence in you treating this crime
seriously.

Finally, it’s a real shame that Ebay/Paypal takes the side of a
CONFIRMED (by Ebay) bad seller
and still punishes a longtime, loyal member with impecable feedback such
as I.

This is verified by my feedback status and LONGTIME track record with
Ebay/Paypal.
(Member since: Aug-15-97)

Sincerely,
******** *. ********
(longtime customer)

Here is the response I got…..

***********************************************************************

My name is Cedric and I work for the office of Executive Escalations. I
want to personally thank you for contacting PayPal. Your concerns were
recently forwarded to our office for review in the hope that we might be
able to assist you further.

I understand that you are contacting us regarding the following PayPal
Buyer Protection Claim, in which you are the buyer:

Seller’s Email: ####################
Transaction Date: September 26, 2009
Transaction Amount: -$####### USD
Transaction ID: ##################
Case Number: ##############

After review of your Claim, I see that we initially requested that you
return the merchandise to the seller for a refund. As you indicated
that you did not feel comfortable returning the merchandise, we made an
exception and asked you to provide documentation from a third-party
unbiased source in order to validate your Claim. The Claim was closed
in the seller’s favor since we did not receive valid documentation from
you within the required timeframe.

Because an item is not advertised or listed by our service, we are not
in the position to verify the quality of an item delivered as opposed to
what was advertised or delivered. Please do not misconstrue PayPal’s
request as suspicion that your claim was not valid. As we are an
internet-based business, we do not have the opportunity to review the
relevant items and evidence in question; therefore, we must rely on the
documents described in our request to properly investigate claims of
significantly not-as-described.

As stated within the User Agreement: If you or another User you have
sent money to or received money from initiates a Dispute, Claim or
Chargeback, you agree to provide to any requesting party on a timely
basis any documentation necessary to resolve the Dispute, Claim or
Chargeback. We apologize if you do not agree with PayPal’s decision
regarding this matter; however, the decision was made after a careful
review of all materials available.

We honestly value you as our customer and want to make your experience
with PayPal a positive one. I reviewed your Account and show you have
an impeccable history with us. For this reason, I made an exception to
policy and am crediting you the full $###### USD for this Claim. Please
allow three to five business days to see this amount reflected in your
PayPal balance. Also, please understand this is a one-time exception
and we will be unable to make further exceptions to this policy going
forward.

I hope this information addresses your concerns, and answers any
remaining questions you may have had; however, if you have any
additional questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us
directly at executiveoffice@paypal.com.

Sincerely,
Cedric
Executive Escalations
PayPal, an eBay Company

***********************************************************************

Maybe I just complained too much or got a sympathetic person, I don’t know. Either way, they refunded me and I still have the fake drives for later evidence if needed.

Thank you KItty & SoSfakeflash. I will give 10% of the refund to you via Paypal as soon as I find the link on the page

James

You can always update your feedback to reflect the bribe and also report the seller for purchasing your feedback. You have your money back — do the right thing.

Follow the instructions there carefully – they can’t enter your fake into the database if you don’t provide complete information.