Don’t Get Fooled by Counterfeit Drives: Fake Samsung 980 Pro SSDs are Rise on 2023

Recently, a tech-savvy buyer from China stumbled upon a counterfeit Samsung 980 Pro SSD on the second-hand market, which appeared identical to the real product with a matching 2TB sticker and firmware. The most striking part is that even Samsung’s Magician software couldn’t differentiate the duplicate drive from the original one.

Fake Samsung 980 PRO SSD
This image shows a fake drive that has an official Samsung sticker attached to it. (Credit: Baidu Tieba)

Unfortunately, this isn’t an isolated incident. Counterfeit products flood the market every day, and buyers lose money for nothing. These counterfeits can range from high-end electronics to everyday items such as clothing and toys, and it’s becoming increasingly difficult to tell them apart from genuine products.

Counterfeiters are getting more creative with their techniques too. They’re using sophisticated techniques such as cloning, replicating, and covering up manufacturing defects to fool buyers into believing their products are genuine.

samsung-980-PRO-SSD
Original Samsung 980 PRO SSD (Check on Amazon)

On a more in-depth examination, the counterfeit SSD had a Maxio MAP1602A PCIe 4.0 SSD controller and YMTC’s 128-layer TLC 3D NAND, which were not the primary components used in the actual Samsung 980 Pro’s 8nm Elpis controller and 128-layer TLC 3D V-NAND. This resulted in much lower performance numbers, barely touching 4.8 GBps and 4.5 GBps for sequential read and write speeds.

The false Samsung 980 Pro SSDs had made their way onto Xianyu, Taobao’s second-hand market, for 880 yuan ($127.77), packaged just like original Samsung products, which had the potential to deceive those who were not wary. This episode highlights the inherent risk of buying computer hardware from the second-hand market, particularly in China, where unethical merchants exploit less knowledgeable buyers.

It is worth noting that the phenomena are not limited to China, as third-party sellers on US retailers have also been caught selling fraudulent products. Therefore, buyers must be careful while online shopping, especially when an offer sounds too good.

If you are interested more in 980 PRO SSD, refer Samsung 980 Pro vs 970 Evo Plus – Ultimate Buyers Guide

What Steps Buyer Can Take To Avoid Counterfeiting SSDs on the Market?

To avoid purchasing counterfeit SSDs on the market, there are several steps buyers can take:

  1. Only buy from reputable retailers: Stick to known retailers, especially those with a reputation for selling genuine products. Avoid third-party sellers if possible. I always purchase genuine SSDs from their official store at Amazon.
  2. Check for secure packaging: Look for authentic and secure packaging, and ensure it has not been tampered with.
  3. Verify the serial number: Manufacturers may provide a way to authenticate the product through a serial number. Check the manufacturer’s website to see if they have provided such information.
  4. Check the performance numbers of the product: Check the product’s performance online to ensure that it aligns with the manufacturer’s claims.
  5. Be cautious of the price: Counterfeit SSDs are available at much lower prices than genuine products. If the cost of the product is too low, then there may be a chance that it’s a counterfeit.

By taking these measures, buyers can safeguard themselves against purchasing counterfeit SSDs and ensure they invest in genuine and reliable products.

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