Beware Of Fake Memory Cards

As for fake memory cards now proliferated throughout the marketplace, it is important to be able to spot a fake. This blog includes methods to spot fakes, and examples of fake cards. Hope it will be useful to all of u.


Why should you care ?

* Inferior quality card - you're not getting what you paid for.
* No warranty - when the card fails, you're out of luck.
* Fake cards sometimes have invalid partition sizes, making it likely to fail.
* It will drive cost of genuine cards up.


Spotting a fake

Unfortunately there is no software which will test the card, and ensure that it's genuine. You must manually scrutinise your card, (both visually and by testing it's performance), to get some idea of it's genuinity.

Presentation quality and differences:

Example of fake 1GB SanDisk SD card
This particular card was also missing a notch, making it quite easy to spot;

Example of fake 2GB SanDisk CF card

Note the faded red print on the back, and the "TM" next to "CF" at the top right side of the fake:
Note there is no serial on the bottom of the fake (serial blurred on the real one)

Note the fake box has no hologram:

Other example of SanDisk 2GB CF card ; Note the poor print and alignment of label:
Note the poor quality workmanship on edge, print quality and alignment of text.

The SanDisk card manual was different to the real thing as well (note that the manual on the right hand is from a SanDisk Ultra II, whereas the manual on the left is for a 'flash memory card')
Fake Sony Pro Duo 2GB. Note that the fake card had poor quality printing and does not have the same various extrusions and intrusions as the genuine card. With the number of lips and dips on the genuine card. It isn't difficult to spot the fake.

Aim and shot for the 'MOON', even if you failed...you'll still landing among the 'STARS' !!!