SOSFakeFlash News 20111228 – China Sellers Unleash A New Plague Of Fake Flash Memory On eBay. Buy Now Listings For SanDisk, Kingston, Memorette Counterfeits. Memory Cards And USB Flash Drives

SOSFakeFlash News Update December 2011

Sections Covered:

1. New Wave Of Flash Memory Fraud From eBay Sellers In China
2. SOSFakeFlash Zero Tolerance Policy
3. What Do eBay Sellers Do When Buyers Report Fake Memory?
4. Extension To Report Fraudulent eBay Sellers For New Lists
5. eBay Singapore Philippines Fake Flash Memory
6. FakeFlashCommandos Alive And Well On eBay

Previous News:

SOSFakeFlash News 20110916 – DT310 512 GB – Memorette 32GB Fakes – eBay Singapore – eBay Australia – Fake Flash Commandos

New Wave Of Flash Memory Fraud From eBay Sellers In China

The FrankenFlash project has managed to contain counterfeit eBay rings operating in Singapore with their satellite ring based in the Philippines for now but in response the fake flash memory sellers have returned to their home base for selling fake memory products on eBay – China.

Since November they have been steadily recruiting and using new id’s, often with feedback scores higher than 200. They are using buy now listings and frequently have sold more than 200 to 500 units per listing. These id’s are running a relay, one new id joins about 1 or 2 days apart. eBay may proceed to start suspending the sellers so they can remove listings from buyer won listings. This is the traditional tactic, to try and hide from exposure and responsibility, eBay is skilled at this and it is why the issue is proceeding into it’s tenth year on eBay.

You are not to rejoice should eBay cancel your purchase or refund you. They are not doing it to protect you but to minimize damage to their reputation and increased internet exposure.

You are advised to read:

Who Do You Report Fake Flash Memory Purchased On eBay First? eBay Or SOSFakeFlash? Understand The Truth And Your Part In Fraud Memory Fraud.

and reflect on your course of action.

There is a need for a rapid response to expose these eBay sellers in China, we ask your assistance on behalf of your fellow eBay members. Some are indeed naive, we do not know what to say to a person who bids and buys a DT200 Kingston DataTraveler for under $15 US. To those who might feel unsympathetic, know that members in the FrankenFlash Project also were naive and trusting of eBay – once. We learned very harsh lessons and this is why SOSFakeFlash exists.

SOSFakeFlash Zero Tolerance Policy

In 2009 SOSFakeFlash announced a zero tolerance policy in response to the increasing number of eBay sellers listing fraudulent flash memory products on eBay. The sheer volume left no other choice. If sellers do not carefully research their products, buyers should not pay the price for their negligence. Four years later, there is more than enough information to guide and warn eBay sellers, especially the danger of purchasing from wholesaling internet sites in China.

Brand names such as Kingston, Sony, SanDisk, Transcend, Memorette are all on the warpath with eBay and these wholesale sites in China. They provide assistance to buyers in validating their flash memory products. eBay sellers could do the same. You will find many registered in the United States and United Kingdom attempting to convince eBay buyers that these false capacity items are “Defective”. They also complain the most about being caught. Oddly not one as yet has engaged the aid of the brand name to support their claim of “Genuine” but unfortunately defective. Most have their id’s removed by eBay shortly afterwards.

Could eBay end this issue?

Read: Can eBay Stop The Sale Of Fake And Counterfeit Memory? A Frauded Buyers Simple Insight To Solving The Problem For Fraudulent eBay Listings.

So why have they not?

Many honest eBay sellers have lost their livelihood selling true capacity flash memory on eBay, they could not compete with the lower prices offered for counterfeit and false capacity flash memory. Removal of sellers who sell fake flash memory is the only hope to allow genuine flash memory sellers on eBay to be seen, to be found, to sell. eBay buyers want to find them. We ask, but are they willing to pay realistic prices?

You can assist by reporting your fake using the Report A Fake tab. It you want eBay to become an honest and safe place to buy flash memory, you need to do your part.

What Do eBay Sellers Do When Buyers Report Fake Memory?

When buyers report their fakes to an eBay seller, sellers do several things:

1. Switch To Private Auctions
2. Email Games To Exhaust The 45 Day Claim Window
3. Protest Items Are Defective Despite Evidence Of H2testw
4. Ignore Buyers
5. DeRegister The ID And Open A New One
6. Threaten Buyers

There was a time when sellers caught selling fake memory, contacted each buyer, warned them, refunded them, apologized, contacted SOSFakeFlash to furnish proof they had refunded and acted honorably. Those days are gone it seems. Instead sellers are not risking their main id, but opening throw away ids to sell flash memory. Furthermore we no longer see sellers responding on their alerts, leaving comments to dialogue about having sold fake flash memory. Draw your own conclusions.

Extension To Report Fraudulent eBay Sellers For New Lists

In October 2011 SOSFakeFlash announced: Deadline Report Your eBay Fake Flash Memory Seller – SOSFakeFlash.

The deadline has been extended. You have an opportunity to report in and to have your seller recorded. We are not at liberty to reveal why we have extended the deadline. You should be aware that fake flash memory sellers and eBay also read SOSFakeFlash.

eBay Singapore Philippines Fake Flash Memory

We wish to thank everyone who worked so hard to contain the counterfeit rings based in Singapore and Philippines. While highly organized they have taken a serious beating and are currently in hiding. Please continue to patrol. They have not given up, but are waiting for a new opportunity to begin once more.

FakeFlashCommandos Alive And Well On eBay

According to FrankenFlash Project investigators, activity of fake flash commandos continues on eBay. They appear to be responsible for shutting down a number of ids for known fraudulent sellers who attempt to launch new ones shortly after a suspension. It seems frauded buyers do response with a vengeance and wrath.

These FakeFlashCommandos are a difference generation, more careful and researching independently, they are not hot tempered, but reacting with an ice cold and chilling temper. It is not possible to determine just how many ids they have stopped or how many eBay buyers they have spared.

It is a dangerous game and not supported by SOSFakeFlash. It is also risky.

As we have always said, each person must decide their course of action. There are FakeFlashAngels who warn other buyers, FakeFlashCommandos who storm ids that have the pattern, there are investigators, researchers, writers and those who provide technical understanding on the issue. Others who continue to FaceBook our alerts and still others who visit internet sites to let peoples know where they can find help.

Everyone’s help is needed to address this issue:

To learn more: Fight Back

Will eBay become fake flash free?

That is up to you to decide.