Sandisk memory cards - a LOT of fakes out there

number41 · 10 Jan 2007 at 07:50

I created a thread about Sandisk Extreme III cards last week - http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17673337

What I found was that in the end my cards ran at the 20mb/s speed they were rated at after buying a new CF reader so they werent a cheap knockoff - could be a good test for others to try but as different CF readers dont work at the same speed it may not be too helpful! 3 of the ones I tried didnt get upto 20mb/s but the new crucial one I did runs at full speed and copying a few 1gb cards is so quick now!

Sandisk said the serials were genuine but unless they had the cards with them they couldnt confirm that the serial numbers werent just copied on there (so having a genuine serial number isnt always the end of the horror!). Mine have good serial numbers and run at 20mb/s so I'm sure theyre genuine - plus I bought two from two different places and theyre exactly the same

1. Check if possible they run at the correct speed stated
2. Check they have individual serial numbers - all cards have different serials so if you buy two and they both have the same serial number then you know you've been had!
3. If the above fails buy a different brand to sandisk from now on which is what I'm opting for as I cant take the stress of wondering if the card I'll get is genuine or not lol

My 1GB Extreme III cards look like this on the back:

scoop · 10 Jan 2007 at 09:52

Just bought an Extreme III from the Rainforest, after getting thoroughly fed up with a certain Sandisk Authorised Retailer (need to check the two Ultra IIs received from them for authenticity, actually...) which seems OK. Registered OK on the SanDisk website. All cards came packed in one of those "bugger to open" plastic packages, the Extreme III being in the package, inside the box. All three packages also had a hidden security tag inside the package, which also added to my feeling of overall authenticity.

I wondered if any of the "fake" Extreme IIIs are failing to come with the RescuePro software and valid Capture One LE license code? Installed both of these last night and online registration of Capture One proceeded fine (stil prefer RSP on comparision, though), so I assume the CF card is genuine.......

edit: Forgot to mention it also came with a really natty Sandisk keyring/case to hold two memory cards. Nice....not! :rolleyes:

Found this on a consumer trading website, which may be useful ammo for those with fake cards....

"Selling counterfeit items deceiving as genuine is considered as FRAUD, not merely a simple mistake. It is seller's sole responsibility.

Consumer protection laws are designed to protect all consumers, the gullible as well as the shrewd. The fact that a false statement may be obviously false to those who are trained and experienced does not change its character or take away its power to deceive others less experienced. Our consumer protection laws were enacted for the protection of the people, many who are trusting and naive about the wolves of the business world who come dressed in lambs' clothing. "

The article goes on to say that recovery of the counterfeit items is the sole responsibiltiy of the trader and not the consumer, i.e. it's not your responsibilty to pay to return the item to the retailer. If they want it back, they can collect it......

^^Gord^^ · 10 Jan 2007 at 10:03

scoop said:
Just bought an Extreme III from the Rainforest, after getting thoroughly fed up with a certain Sandisk Authorised Retailer (need to check the two Ultra IIs received from them for authenticity, actually...) which seems OK. Registered OK on the SanDisk website.

SanDisk's website performs no validation of serial numbers as I was able to register a fake on it!

You really need to ring them to check a serial number.

lloydsj · 10 Jan 2007 at 10:25

^^Gord^^ said:
You really need to ring them to check a serial number.

Yep, thats what i did. I bought a 2gb Sandisk off ebay a few months ago and then found out about all the fakes, so i just rang sandisk (got the number off their webiste). The person i spoke to was more than happy to help, and it turned out mine had a serial number on it for a 256mb card. I sent it back to the ebay seller and got a refund. The seller had a few thousand positive feedback but I presume no-one checks and they were all fakes, or re-flashed cards.

^^Gord^^ · 10 Jan 2007 at 10:34

I said in my feedback I got a fake Sandisk card and had a number of people PM me asking how I discovered it was a fake. I bet the seller loved me!

danza · 10 Jan 2007 at 17:49

My serial numbers check out OK, so for what I paid I did well! :cool:

Nazbit · 10 Jan 2007 at 18:22

scoop said:
Just bought an Extreme III from the Rainforest, after getting thoroughly fed up with a certain Sandisk Authorised Retailer (need to check the two Ultra IIs received from them for authenticity, actually...) which seems OK. Registered OK on the SanDisk website. All cards came packed in one of those "bugger to open" plastic packages, the Extreme III being in the package, inside the box. All three packages also had a hidden security tag inside the package, which also added to my feeling of overall authenticity.

I wondered if any of the "fake" Extreme IIIs are failing to come with the RescuePro software and valid Capture One LE license code? Installed both of these last night and online registration of Capture One proceeded fine (stil prefer RSP on comparision, though), so I assume the CF card is genuine.......

I bought cards from the same place, they came in that awful packaging, the rescue pro software (complete with code) warranty card and one of those little key ring cases.

They were still fake.

Registering on the website doesnt prove anything by the looks of it, it acepted mine on the site, but phoning them confirmed they were fake. (although it was obvious as my serial numbers were the same on both xcards)

I also found that website about fraud, I used it in my email to them and they were much more apologetic and co-operative afterwards, I have yet to see my money though.

danza said:
My serial numbers check out OK, so for what I paid I did well!

Hey dont rub it in, some of us did everything we could to get genuine cards from trusted multi national websites and still got faked

danza · 10 Jan 2007 at 21:07

Well, I got my 1gb card from an independant seller on the rainforest place, and my 2gb from a seller on eBay in HK called flashman852. His stuff does seem legit, and he's only received 89 neutral and 65 positive feedbacks in the last month.

His positive feedback for the past month totals 10725 :eek:

The item listing showed a pic of a card which had the correct appearance for a legit card, infact the only one I could find. It wasn't the cheapest, but only by a couple of quid.

number41 · 10 Jan 2007 at 22:09

If people are that scared of getting a sandisk fake, just go with a different brand I say!

scoop · 11 Jan 2007 at 09:16

OK, interesting follow up. Just off the 'phone to Sandisk in the US.

All my 3 cards check out OK in terms of serial numbers. This surprised me, as two cards had the same number on them. The chap at SanDisk explained the number on the card is not truly a serial number, more of a batch/lot code. Mine just came off the same batch run, and he assured me it was not an issue.

Just thought it was worth sharing that identical card numbers do not neccessarliy imply fakes.

So, my HDTach 6 MB/s card reader ceiling across the cards is my card reader, not the cards. Need a new card reader........

) Anyone recommend a decent internal beige card reader, 'cos mine's naff! Thinking along the line of the Internal Asaka ones OC stock. Anyone care to comment on the transfer speeds etc?

Raikiri · 11 Jan 2007 at 15:50

Just in case you don't want to risk a fake you can get a 2GB Kingston SD card now for £13 :eek:

(Not read the thread, btw)

Nazbit · 11 Jan 2007 at 17:06

scoop said:
Just thought it was worth sharing that identical card numbers do not neccessarliy imply fakes.

You have GOT to be kidding me. :eek:

I emailed them as two of mine were the same and sandisk answered my question by saying that if they are genuine they will have a "unique serial number printed on the side of the card".

So on that basis I sent mine back.

scoop · 11 Jan 2007 at 17:08

Nazbit said:
You have GOT to be kidding me.

I was surprised, though as I bought the cards from an authorised retailer, I was more surprised they might be dodgy. Interesting finding, I thought.

Nazbit · 11 Jan 2007 at 17:44

scoop said:
I was surprised, though as I bought the cards from an authorised retailer, I was more surprised they might be dodgy. Interesting finding, I thought.

I will have to ring tomorrow and double check this because if it is the case then the retailer I have just sent my cards back to might kick up a fuss about refunding the money.

When I told them the numbers were the same though, they told me to return them for a refund straight away and said they would investigate the matter.

I need the cards in two weeks time though, so if they dont hurry up then there are going to be some angry phone calls.

Avalon · 12 Jan 2007 at 15:36

Nazbit said:
I need the cards in two weeks time though, so if they dont hurry up then there are going to be some angry phone calls.

I can imagine that will be a gem of a call ....

'Hello!... I'm very VERY angry, I may have just returned two perfectly good Sandisk Cards thinking they were fake and... well ... they weren't. But I need them back ASAP or i'll get more angry and it's all *cough*not*cough* your fault ... GRRRRRRR!'

I hope they record it

Only joking, hope they get to the bottom of it quickly though

J1234 · 21 Feb 2007 at 09:48

I'm glad I read this, I realised I bought a fake of ****** (rainforest), for a real price. Didn't realise until 1 in the morning that I had a fake because I inspected it closely, sent the seller a nice email, and my refund was there in a few hours

ElDude · 21 Feb 2007 at 10:13

Out of curiosity, how are they allowed to trade on that auction site, when everyone knows they sell illegal items. More over, why haven't Sandisk taken them to court for selling items claiming to be from them?

Also, why are Sandisk saying two completely different things when people are calling them asking about the serial numbers?

A whole lot of slacking is going on there, me thinks.