eBay is full of fake 32GB SD, flash, and memory cards

After 2 weeks of waiting for my 32GB SD card from Hong Kong, I finally received it. Too bad, I waited for nothing, because I bought a fake SD card. It’s really deceptive, because if you check it in your PC or MAC, you’ll see that total capacity of 32GB.

But don’t let you eyes deceive you! If you’ll use the card and you exceeded 2GB, all of your other files will be corrupted. Because it’s really 2GB not 32GB. They just re-programmed or hacked it so that your computer will show you that it’s 32GB, but its total capacity only 2GB.

I used the fake 32GB SD card in my camera and copied at least 2GB of data on it so that I can test and prove if I can use more than 2GB. After taking a few pictures with my camera, I found out that my images are corrupted. I also tried to take videos but it seems I can’t take anymore videos because my memory card is already corrupted. I tried to delete some data and test it again to see if I can save some images. I did save some images, but when I exceeded 2GB, all the rest of my videos and images are gone to oblivion.

Good thing someone already made a software to test if you SD card is fake or not. You can download the software here. It’s called H2testw.

I tested my SD card with H2testw and here’s the result:

 
The media is likely to be defective.
1.9 GByte OK (3995648 sectors)
29.3 GByte DATA LOST (61485056 sectors)
Details:0 KByte overwritten (0 sectors)
0 KByte slightly changed (< 8 bit/sector, 0 sectors)
29.3 GByte corrupted (61485056 sectors)
0 KByte aliased memory (0 sectors)
First error at offset: 0x0000000079052600
Expected: 0x0000000079052600
Found: 0x0000000000000000
H2testw version 1.3
Writing speed: 1.86 MByte/s
Reading speed: 4.14 MByte/s
H2testw v1.4

We'll too bad for me. I think I need to be more careful next time and I should not be deceived with super low-priced SD cards at eBay.

Now I have to file a dispute at Paypal to get my money back. Good thing eBay has a buyer protection program which makes them really a great place to buy thingamajigs online.


Comments

13 responses to “eBay is full of fake 32GB SD, flash, and memory cards”

  1. Just wanted to thank you for this post! I’ve spent a good hour or so now trying to figure out why my ’32GB’ micro SD card is corrupt…Time to open a dispute at PayPal.

    Did you run H2testw after your card became corrupt? The program wants me to format my card before it can run (which I obviously can’t do!)

    Hope you got your dispute sorted.

  2. We hope you get refunded.

    Thank you from all of us for taking the time to write about your experience and warning others. It makes a difference.

  3. Bryan Veloso Avatar
    Bryan Veloso

    @Kristina – backup your card first before formatting. I tested it before using it to make sure that my files won’t get corrupted anymore, too bad, I still bought a fake SD card. I had one before and I was shocked because it doesn’t save anymore files. The videos I also took got corrupted, as well as the pictures.

    I checked the SD card and it seems there’s a lot of space available. But the space available is for your eyes only, the real capacity is just 2GB.

    Let’s just be careful next time and buy only for certified genuine memory card sellers at eBay, like 1800memory.

    Check out genuine SD cards here: http://stores.ebay.com/1800Memory

    It’s a bit expensive, but it’s GENUINE.

  4. Bryan Veloso Avatar
    Bryan Veloso

    @KittyFireFlash – thank you so much for the concern! Let’s continue to fight flash fraud on eBay!

  5. amanda smith Avatar
    amanda smith

    yeah they caught me as well but trouble was ebay sent me a message and i hadnt received the card but put a dispute in anyway then received my card checked it on the laptop and it said 32gb so cancelled the dispute then had the same problems you had but it is really hard to reopen a case i have had to email ebay customer support as they wont take id number as theysay i have already opened this case so fingers crossed they will get back to me and i can get my money back!!!

  6. reivan veloso Avatar
    reivan veloso

    Hey, you’re a Filipino too right? I’m just curious about this SD card of yours. There are cheap SD cards in the Philippines at CD-R king stores. I hope you can have time to view our local stores here.

    Reiv

  7. Bryan Veloso Avatar
    Bryan Veloso

    @reivan veloso – I haven’t bought anything from CD-R king yet. I’ll buy one if I get a chance to visit a CD-R king store. If I found out that they are selling fakes, I’ll just blog about it so that others will be notified.

    Any idea what’s the price range of their memory cards?

  8. reivan veloso Avatar
    reivan veloso

    @bryan veloso – Sorry if I had had late reply. Just visit the CD-R king site -http://www.cdrking.com/, the prices of the memory cards are included there with photos.

    By the way, Do you know Lucban, Quezon?

  9. Fake sandisk cards seller below has nine accounts which are all linked. Hide business details on 6 of the accounts.
    1.zz774411
    2.Good456pcl
    3.11777abc
    4.Flashworld777
    5.Memorystore888
    6.Abc1478963
    7.Flashcard-seller
    8.QQ996633
    9.aabbcc147

  10. Alibaba and Ebay is Full of Scam and Chines Fake Basterds.
    Thanks for you’r post your software helpful to identiy the Error. 4 People: whenever you received New Hard Drive or Pen Drive, First time always these medium should be formated.Tahnk you

  11. I had the same problem with my 32 GB memory card that I ordered from China on Ebay. It’s having so many problems saving files and then corrupting them. Taking a closer look at the card itself, it looks like a 3 was printed in front of the 2. I guess $15 for a 32 GB card was too good to be true.

  12. Alex Mazo Avatar
    Alex Mazo

    I had the same problem only guss what this was a u.s seller believe it or not, so china isn’t the only colprets of this scam, i guss anything that sounds too good to be true probably is the seller is devinh83 just so you all beware, im attamting to get a refund right now, if you wanna see the post its http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rt=nc&nma=true&item=330518139725&si=komCv6Yhb1dj6QvAvMWyzqJaa%252F0%253D&viewitem=&sspagename=ADME:X:RTQ:US:1123#ht_500wt_1156

  13. […] ????? ?? Ebay ????-?????. ???????? ??????????? ?????: http://bryanveloso.com/2010/09/25/ebay-is-full-of-fake-32gb-sd-flash-and-memory-cards/ […]

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