Do you trust the brand names Sony, Samsung, Android and Kingston on eBay? Beware you could buy a fake, they are cheap. If you bought them from a Chinese eBay seller you are in danger of flash memory fraud.
If you bought a flash memory item from any of these eBay sellers you are advised to test item(s) immediately for advertised capacity. You may have purchased a fake flash memory product. H2testw is the software to test true capacity for flash memory. It is used to test memory cards, mp players and usb flash drives. It is free to use and download. A linux alternative to H2testw also exists. To understand what H2testw does and download read: H2testw 1.4 – Gold Standard In Detecting USB Counterfeit Drives
If your memory item fails testing report immediately to SOSFakeFlash . If your eBay seller is deregistered from eBay, it is urgent you report in to SOSFakeFlash. If you do not, they will not be able to investigate and to record in their database to publish an offical alert listing all items sold. eBay is suspending fake flash memory sellers to avoid buyers leaving feedback or recording the truth.
Never use any flash memory item without testing for capacity. If you purchased a fake you could lose your files and data. Read: Why Is Fake Flash Memory So Dangerous?
Please see Validation Memory links for brand names and flash nand memory chip decoding. Reminder, Gb is Gigabits, not Gigabytes. 8 bits is 1 byte. You must divide by 8, if manufacturer lists size as Gb. Exercise care in disassembly of your item to decode.
Why does eBay not protect you against flash memory fraud from China? Have you ever wondered why? In 2009 SOSFakeFlash explained why eBay does not protect buyers:
If you read this article you will understand why there is such a long history of flash memory fraud on eBay specifically from eBay sellers in China.
Four years later there is a new twist. Many frauded buyers on eBay fought back against Chinese fake flash memory sellers. Powerseller id’s fell, one by one thanks to an aggressive effort by eBay members. There were two groups of people:
Those who contacted other buyers and warned them to test – FakeFlashMemory angels.
Those who decided to behave like the sellers, they used very unorthodox methods, aggressive and not clean – FakeFlashCommandos.
The two groups were very different in ideology in how to fight the issue. It caused a division in the FrankenFlash project. Those who believed in following “process” and those who did not.
One site was horrified SOSFakeFlash might publish exactly how flash memory chips could be altered, they actually thought it would lead people in Western countries to do it. What they did not take into consideration was the time and effort involved in the alternation. Why bother when you can import from a Chinese wholesale site so much cheaper, no personal effort involved? Why risk using the wrong tools and destroying inventory? Will we publish how it is done? Yes, eventually we will. Fact is, it is one of the important exercises technical team members are required to perform as proof of their knowledge and understanding of manipulating flash chip storage technology.
SOSFakeFlash does not have a mandate to police people’s thoughts or actions. We only report what we know and have investigated. It is up to each reader to decide how to react or respond. How you respond will probably tell you a lot about yourself. It can be very revealing.
Some people read, then fight for a refund and disappear.
Some report the seller to eBay and then file for refund.
Some examine the seller’s history, realize they have to be clever and sneaky. Especially when nobody left negative feedback, they play along, get their refund, leave positive, then stab the seller in the back. How? By sending us full documentation on the seller, even home addresses. While you might think this is not exactly clean, what would you do when you are the only one dealing with an aggressive and nasty eBay fake flash memory seller. Fact is, the seller hasn’t a clue which buyer reported. Do we like this? No. Do we understand this? Oh yes we do! Do we take the frauded buyers report and put it in the database? Yes. And with pleasure, especially when we get the background from investigators. There are cases when a buyer doesn’t have a choice and we understand.
Some report the sellers to us with evidence, then they file for a refund.
Some think that when eBay refunds them, it was because of their own efforts, not the fact that FrankenFlash project sites have been turning up the heat for over 5 years. Sadly they forget the buyers in 2008, 2009 and 2010 who never got a refund. Many refused to return items as they knew the items would be resold and would violate postal regulations in their countries.
Some people, shocked, leave negative feedback, report to us, then fight their claim.
Some people leave negative feedback but when they get a refund, change the feedback to positive. They got their money back but are not concerned about what happens to the other buyers for the seller.
Some people warn others, fight their claims and no matter how the sellers might try to play games or insult them, stand their ground.
Some people learn fast. They are very sharp. Okay, they made a mistake, they learned from it. They might feel a bit stupid about being scammed, but it does not take them long to understand what is going on. They are people who get the facts and do not jump to conclusions.` They dig into the subject on the internet. They become either a FakeFlashAngel or a FakeFlashCommando. Both fight back.
So 5 years later what is the correct path in fighting flash memory fraud? Especially on eBay?
Well what we can see in hindsight is, people who believed in “Process” were dead wrong. They gave up. If “Process” worked, then the issue would be history, not longer an issue on eBay.
In recent months, eBay China has suddenly become very aggressive in selling fake memory. Why?
We don’t know. SOSFakeFlash can speculate on the fact that China has entered a serious recession. Factories and Fab’s are closing. There is a hugh inventory on low capacity flash memory chips nobody wants. Local brick and mortar stores, especially chains, are offering genuine flash memory at discounts never seen before, probably because of the surplus in flash memory chips, changing technology and new flash memory chip speeds.
The internet exposure on fake flash memory eBay China has increased. eBay China id’s have a very short life. eBay is in trouble, they can not afford to alienate Chinese eBay sellers. eBay would lose about 70% of their business if they actively went after fraudulent Chinese sellers. eBay would most likely shut down in a few months. It is the ugly truth.
You can expect an avalanche of China eBay ids to continue offering fake flash items.
If you bought a flash memory item from ruanyurong – China eBay seller you are advised to test item(s) immediately for advertised capacity. You may have purchased a fake flash memory product. H2testw is the software to test true capacity for flash memory. It is used to test memory cards, mp players and usb flash drives. It is free to use and download. A linux alternative to H2testw also exists. To understand what H2testw does and download read: H2testw 1.4 – Gold Standard In Detecting USB Counterfeit Drives
If your memory item fails testing report immediately to SOSFakeFlash . If your eBay seller is deregistered from eBay, it is urgent you report in to SOSFakeFlash. If you do not, they will not be able to investigate and to record in their database to publish an offical alert listing all items sold. eBay is suspending fake flash memory sellers to avoid buyers leaving feedback or recording the truth.
Never use any flash memory item without testing for capacity. If you purchased a fake you could lose your files and data. Read: Why Is Fake Flash Memory So Dangerous?
Please see Validation Memory links for brand names and flash nand memory chip decoding. Reminder, Gb is Gigabits, not Gigabytes. 8 bits is 1 byte. You must divide by 8, if manufacturer lists size as Gb. Exercise care in disassembly of your item to decode.
Memorette Assistence, please read information provided by Memorette Overseas Sales Manager. Memorette Inc is ready to provide you with important information, including who the sellers of genuine Memorette products are.
If you suspect you bought a fake capacity MP Player, usb flash drive or memory card on eBay there are five things you need to do: Read the rest of this entry »
USB leather flash drives, eBay members bid and buy, bid and buy. Sadly anyone who buys it at an advertised capacity of more than 4GB is asking for trouble. Fraud is waiting. False capacity is waiting – hacked memory. Yet, despite many warnings from FrankenFlash Project sites, members on eBay rush to buy one, often several at a time.
One of us has a glass jar filled with these hacked leather usb flash drives. A reminder of a stupid mistake made years ago on eBay. It’s a good motivator to keep pounding on the keyboard.
Did you bid for one on eBay? If you did and so far not paid for it, cancel the sale and transaction immediately. Report the seller to eBay.
If you want to see what they really look like inside read this:
If you paid and tested the capacity, or opened it up to decode the flash memory storage chip, make sure you file a dispute to get your money back. Warn other people too.
At FakeMemorySentinel we are issuing warnings on any eBay seller who lists them at advertised capacity of more than 8 GB. They do exist at 16GB at internet sites outside of eBay. However, they are sold by reputable companies, they “Logo” them – emboss with your companies name or promotion and they are not cheap.
Fake flash memory, what is this? Did you know eBay is the place to be scammed with hacked flash memory chips? SOSFakeFlash has been fighting 3 years to help you. Did you buy a fake MP3 MP4 MP5 player? A usb flash drive pen memory stick advertised at 16GB 32GB 64GB 128GB 256GGB 500GB 512GB capacity? Did you buy a memory card advertised at 16GB 32GB? Watch out, beware of fraud on eBay!
Read these articles to learn the truth, empower yourself against fraud on eBay. You will also find the same fraud on internet wholesale sites, especially those located in Asia. The truth is, only victims can help themselves. SOSFakeFlash is here to help you. Read, learn, fight! Don’t accept flash memory fraud.
clearancestore-80 is an eBay seller of Counterfeit (Fake hacked – false capacity memory) Flash USB drives. Registered in Singapore, clearancestore-80 has been suspended by eBay.
1. Do not accept any 45 day window limitation from eBay. eBay is aware of the problem for fake flash memory cards, usb flash drives and MP Players. eBay has absolutely no excuse. You will find just how many sellers have been documented by SOSFakeFlash by checking our lists.
It’s easy to use and has all the information you need with quick link navigation. 3 years of information provided by victims of fake flash memory!
Please test your device to ensure you have the advertised capacity. Report in to SOSFakeFlash if your testing confirms you have a false capacity device. Please send any addressing information you have on the seller, this information is important.
Don’t forget to leave the calling card of “SOSFakeFlash” and “H2testw” in your feedback to help others. Do not change your feedback to get a refund – you will only create more victims.
Do a good deed, warn other eBay buyers of fake flash. Help rescue them. Check positive feedback for a fake flash seller and send messages to warn. Just state facts, ask them to test. You can only send up to 5 messages a day. Save another person from a fake flash nightmare and potential data loss.
Help educate others on the problem of upgraded memory, hacked flash chips. You can now share this article on Facebook,StumbleUpon,Digg and Reddit, buttons are at the bottom.
SOSFakeFlash reading list For newbies fake memory victims of fraud – upgraded memory and counterfeits. This is your ultimate reference guide to give you the facts on hacked flash memory products. You can learn quickly about the subject of fake flash memory – known as false capacity usb flash drives, mp players and memory cards. This guide has hot links for quick navigation to the topics covered.
If you purchased any mp3 mp4 mp5 players, memory cards or usb flash drives you need to test for the real capacity to avoid becoming a victim of flash memory fraud. You could lose your data files and your money.
Flash memory can be digitally altered to lie about real capacity. To buyers it is “Hacked Flash Memory”, to fraudulent sellers it is “Upgraded Flash Memory”. Flash chip capacities that are hacked?
Note : December 2009, the highest capacity manufactured is currently 256GB for usb flash memory thumb drives – cheapest honest price? $700+ US! Memory Cards 64GB Cheapest honest price? $349+ US. Lowest realistic price for a 32GB Memory Card? $45 US Class 4. (Pricing Newegg com).
Three years of information and experience compiled to help you from the FrankenFlash Project and victims of fake flash memory purchases.
We are volunteers, nobody pays us. Like you, we have been victims on eBay. Most of us got our refunds. We could have disappeared into a new fake flash free life but we chose not to. Why? The answer is simple. You are reading this site. We knew there would be new victims. Somebody has to warn others. We are also disgusted by eBay groveling for pennies, protecting fraudulent sellers and allowing eBay members to be frauded for over eight years. Right now we are in phase III against eBay. In each phase we continue to turn up the heat. eBay refuses to change the policy for listing flash memory, they want the money from listing fees. If you research this site carefully, you will come to the same conclusion. You, the victims empower us to work on your behalf. eBay does not like this site, but eBay members who are victims of fake flash memory do.
SOSFakeFlash documents eBay seller id’s who have sold fake usb pen sticks, memory cards and mp players. The lists become a permanent record against a seller id. Should a seller attempt to rename the id (often done), SOSFakeFlash will issue a new alert and also update the lists to the new id. The recorded information in the databases is transferred to the new id. There is no escaping the long arm of SOSFakeFlash. eBay sellers who sold fake flash memory don’t get to tip toe into the night or escape their history of fraud.
These lists are often consulted by eBay buyers.
The lists provide a record eBay and fake flash memory sellers can not escape. No internet site can match the number of fraudulent eBay sellers on file with SOSFakeFlash. The purpose is to record eBay’s participation in fraud and to ensure there is a record.
These lists have an important feature, if you click on the seller id, you can access the negative and neutral feedback – quickly.
You will find in some cases no negative or neutral feedback for a seller listed. The reasons?
Buyers left positive feedback, then discovered they purchased a fake and sent in documenting evidence using the Report A Fake tab.
The seller was suspended by eBay, preventing buyers from leaving negative and neutral feedback.
Reporting sellers provides an opportunity to record a fraudulent seller, despite having left positive feedback or eBay suspending the seller in an attempt to hide how serious the problem is.
The eBay Fake Memory Seller Lists prevent any attempts to bury or hide the issue.
If you have exceeded your 45 day claim window, but found your seller on the lists, you should demand your refund from eBay and accept no excuses – even if you purchased 2 years ago! eBay very aware of the issue, they just want you to disappear or give up with their email robots. Don’t!
SOSFakeFlash actively engages in detecting counterfeit rings operating on eBay. The clues come from frauded buyers who report in using the report a fake tab.
As of December 2009, SOSFakeFlash has 44 counterfeit rings on file. The ring with the most eBay seller id’s? XU GANG with 24 eBay id’s.
The 3totrade counterfeit ring is special, belonging to the original Don of fake flash memory in the orient. Everyone was so curious about this ring it led to a covert visit to the address in China! This counterfeit ring is the reason SOSFakeFlash started an internet presence!
Occasionally articles are published on the eBay id connections, their addresses, contact names and even email addresses. You can help build the connections by sending in your information to SOSFakeFlash. Sellers frequently change addresses, this is not a problem so long as frauded eBay members continue to report in. Often eBay sellers in their hurry to change addresses make serious mistakes, leading us to more fraudulent sellers!
Received an address in Chinese? Not a problem. You can copy paste into google translation. If it is printed on a label and you know someone with OCR software you can scan, pick up the characters and then paste into google translation. If you don’t have OCR software for a shipping custom label, find someone who reads Chinese and ask them to translate the address for you.
It’s important you all know we receive help and leaked information from Oriental people who are outraged and angry about hacked flash memory being sold. They are taking great personal risks in countries where law is not friendly to whistle blowers. They have our RESPECT!
In helping us to identify the counterfeit rings, you embarrass and shame eBay. You make it impossible for eBay to deny the fraud, how massive it is – millions of US dollars annually and you provide evidence that may well become useful in criminal prosecution. Flash memory fraud on eBay is highly organized, your information helps prove it!
FakeMemorySentinel is the FrankenFlash project site dedicated to detecting fraudulent sellers and listings. Almost all sellers end up disappearing or being reported for fake flash memory sales. So far, no one has written in to say a seller sold true capacity. The team at this site is the most experienced in detecting fake flash memory. Their site covers eBay and internet wholesaling sites. So many sellers list and are suspended shortly afterwards on internet sites. FakeMemorySentinel makes sure a footprint is left when all other information disappears.
FakeMemorySentinels’s job is to warn people to test usb flash drives, memory cards and mp players to ensure they received the advertised capacity. Many warnings about eBay sellers at FakeMemorySentinel lead to investigations by SOSFakeFlash.
Sandisk is an important brand name. There are a lot of counterfeiters out there trying to rip off Sandisk and buyers. The Sandisk forums are a great place to warn others and to discuss fake Sandisk purchases.
Kingston Technologies is the biggest victim of fake flash memory. Their brand is under attack from counterfeiters for memory cards and usb flash drives. The Kingston brand is legendary for quality and reliability. Unfortunately this makes Kingston a target. Most buyers who are frauded with Kingston flash flash memory paid very unrealistic prices.
Fake memory cards and usb flash drives are catalogued at FlashDriveFacts. You can send in photos of your fake to SOSFakeFlashDrive@gmail.com to be added to the collection.
The FlashDriveFacts site is important. It stops a lot of resellers from entering into the fake flash memory market – the smart ones who take the time to research on the internet before committing to a purchase from an internet wholesaler. It is also an important resource for frauded buyers.
SOSFakeFlash documents buyer stories. A lot as yet have not been published, but they will be. Some people find it hard to believe that there is a problem with flash memory being sold. The best stories don’t come from SOSFakeFlash alerts, but from frauded victims. The stories are useful. They help you to see into the fraudulent sellers mind and the tricks they will try on you. It you need to fight a claim or battle with a seller, it helps to read about the experiences others have had. It will prepare you to do battle against your fraudulent seller.
eBay is not the only place you will find fake flash memory. You will find lot’s of fake for sale at internet wholesaling sites. The internet sites below are the major sources for fake flash memory products appearing on eBay. Sellers interested in quick and easy profit, fall for these sites. They then list the items they bought on eBay. Anyone who buys from the sites below is asking for trouble. Flash memory is not cheap, there is no mega profit to be found in reselling mp players, usb flash drives or memory cards. The sad fact is, the profit margin is small for selling real capacity. Unfortunately, sellers at these site are waiting for people who want to make lot’s of money in a hurry. They will sell digitally altered upgraded memory and or counterfeit products to anyone foolish enough to buy them.
The major popular internet sites selling fake flash memory products are:
eBay is the best place to be frauded if you buy a flash memory pen stick. A lot of eBay members naively believe eBay will protect them from fake flash memory sellers. Unfortunately buyers must learn a hard lesson, lose their data, fight a claim and suffer a lot of frustration. eBay sellers operate in counterfeit rings, they also groom and prepare id’s in advance. Read the rest of this entry »
Kingston usb flash drive fakes and memory cards are really hot on eBay! Everyday, new listings and new victims. Did you discover the truth and raise a dispute on eBay to get your money back? Is eBay trying to prevent you from getting a refund by making you Prove it was a Kingston counterfeit?
Our advice? Please do not buy any Kingston usb flash drives or memory cards on eBay. Especially DT150 DT200 D300 DT310 usb pen sticks. Watch out for 32GB advertised capacity in memory cards. Asian sellers are always suspect, but watch out for Western sellers on eBay, they are growing in number! If you did buy and eBay is giving you a hard time, read the article!
Your interest is keen on the subject of fake flash memory. This is good. The questions you raise are probably ones a lot of readers have. In answering you we have the opportunity to answer all readers.
1) Contacting buyers
2) Using tags in comments
3) Warning Listings On eBay – Do We encourage?
4) Reporting Fake Flash Memory Sellers
5) Final Notes And Important Thoughts
If you use the Toolhaus.org tool to check a sellers feedback and receive a message that the id is invalid, it means only one thing – the eBay seller as renamed his eBay id.
Official sites in the Franken Flash Project are equipped to deal with this issue. It is not a mystery to our sites. We can detect the changes. When sellers attempt to rename their id’s it is not an issue for us. It is not a new tactic. It is an old tactic fake flash memory sellers use. Unfortunately unofficial sites do not have the information we have and lack the discipline to track and trace. There is only one way to understand the behavior and to deal with it – databases.
SOSFakeFlash is very much aware of this behavior. It is also the reason for databases and why it is so important that victims report their fake flash memory sellers! Some fake flash memory sellers change their id names frequently. It is an attempt to hide from victims. Also to try and break the chain of negative feedback, This is especially important for eBay forums and blogs.
By using the Report A Fake tab and reporting your sellers we are able to track them and any sneaky attempts to change their eBay seller Id names.
Any internet site that promotes itself as fighting against fake flash memory selling on eBay needs to have databases. To reassuringly track changes in seller id’s. If they do not, then they are going to be left in the dark, unable to assist ebay Victims.
SOSFakeFlash thanks all victims who are reporting in using the Report A Fake Tab. You are helping! Your contribution is making a difference. Without your reports, SOSFakeFlash would have nothing to report, no one to warn on the internet.
If you are trying to repair a fake flash memory item you need to visit FixFakeFlash Inspectortech. It is the most comprehsive site to fixing fake flash memory! Make sure you read their FAQ so you are prepared for the challenge.
There is a collection of photos profiling DT310 DataTraveler. What do you think the suggested retail price is? Important information, especially for visitors to SOSFakeFlash.
Fake Flash Memory is false capacity memory. Flash nand memory chips have been reprogrammed to lie about their true capacity. They trick operating systems into believing they are bigger then they really are. Once you exceed the real capacity of the memory chip, you will lo0se data and files. There is no place on the memory chip.
Fakes are created by reprogramming the flash memory chip with special software. Certain usb flash controller chips have flaws. Fake Flash Memory sellers always seem to use the same chip sets.
Why do people become victims on eBay when they buy flash memory cards, usb flash drives or MPx Players?
Members do not understand the real costs of flash memory chips. They assume the low prices on eBay are because the retail outlet has been removed from the picture. Wrong!
Please visit FlashFakeCentral . The site was fast tracked to the internet.
You have two very important lessons assigned to you:
Don’t forget to leave the calling card of “SOSFakeFlash” and “H2testw” in your feedback to help others. Do not change your feedback to get a refund – you will only create more victims.
eBay is the best place to be frauded if you buy a flash memory pen stick. A lot of eBay members naively believe eBay will protect them from fake flash memory sellers. Unfortunately buyers must learn a hard lesson, lose their data, fight a claim and suffer a lot of frustration. eBay sellers operate in counterfeit rings, they also groom and prepare id’s in advance. 
SOSFakeFlash 