Beware of Counterfeit Memory Cards!
One of the current needs in the world of photography is storage space, especially with the increasing quality of recordings from modern digital cameras. However, few seem to truly understand the problems related to storage media. One of the main challenges that the photography community faces today is counterfeit memory cards, which unfortunately are increasingly present in online stores and marketplaces.
In recent years, memory cards have undergone significant evolution, increasing both in capacity and in read and write speed. Today, it is possible to record numerous high-quality recordings on a single card, making life easier for those who need to record important events without the constant worry of changing the card, whether in a camera, smartphone, tablet or even a drone. However, when looking for the ideal memory card, one crucial detail cannot be ignored: counterfeit cards.
Unfortunately, the sale of counterfeit memory cards is becoming increasingly common, and these products can pose a great risk to those who rely on them to capture special moments. In the case of a fake card, the problem can be even more complicated than you might think, and often you won’t realize you’ve been scammed until it’s too late.
In this post, we’ll discuss how counterfeit memory cards work, how to spot them, and most importantly, how to test them to prevent them from compromising your recordings, whether you’re a professional photographer or just an amateur enthusiast.
1. The Counterfeit Memory Card Scam
Many people believe that a counterfeit memory card is one that simply has the wrong capacity - for example, you buy a 256GB card but receive a 64GB or 32GB card. While this does happen in some cases, the scam is often more sophisticated than it seems. The real problem is that with counterfeit cards, everything seems to be fine at first glance.
The product may have a package with the manufacturer's logo, a label stating the correct capacity, and everything else you'd expect to see. You plug the card into your computer, it's identified as the size you expected, and you even start copying files to it, and everything seems to work fine. You see the files there, and everything looks perfect, with the correct date and file size. The real catch, however, is what's really going on.
These counterfeit cards often have much less actual storage than what's advertised. Many of these fake drives actually only have 8GB or 16GB of storage capacity, but they pretend to be a 256GB drive, pretending to be capable of storing all the files you try to save. However, what you don’t realize is that after the first 8GB of storage is filled, any additional data you put on the card will not actually be written.
The data is "stored" in non-existent locations, so the operating system cannot verify that the write process was successful. The operating system expects an error message from the memory card if there is a problem reading or writing, but a counterfeit card will not display this warning because it has been tampered with, and the system then assumes that the data is being saved correctly and therefore does not display any errors. This creates the false impression that the card is working perfectly fine, when in reality it is simply ignoring the extra storage you are trying to write to, corrupting your data. And this will happen whether you are using the memory card in a notebook, a camera or anywhere else. Do you realize how serious the situation is?
2. Why is this dangerous?
The biggest problem with using a counterfeit card is the potential loss of important data without your knowledge. You may capture countless photos and videos, but when you try to access the files, you find that many of them are corrupted or missing altogether. Since counterfeit drives do not report write errors, files may appear to be present, but their contents are missing or corrupted.
Imagine that you recorded a series of videos or took hundreds of photos at a significant event, such as a family gathering or a professional photography assignment. Everything seems fine, but when you try to view the files later, you find that they are empty or inaccessible, accompanied by an error message stating that the file format is not supported - they are corrupted! This is a devastating scenario, especially when you rely on these flash memory cards to capture and preserve important moments.
3. How to Avoid Counterfeit Memory Cards?
Fortunately, there are some simple steps you can take to avoid falling for this scam and ensure that the card you are about to use is genuine and reliable. Here are some essential tips:
3.1 Buy from Reliable Suppliers
The first and most important tip is to always buy your memory cards from trusted and authorized stores. Avoid marketplaces from unknown sellers, where the chance of finding counterfeit products is higher. Large online retailers and stores specializing in photography equipment usually work with authorized distributors and guarantee the authenticity of their products.
3.2 Be Wary of Prices That Are Way Too Low for the Market
If a 256GB memory card is being sold at a price that seems too good to be true, be suspicious. The prices of memory cards from renowned brands such as SanDisk, Samsung, Kingston, Lexar, among others, have a fairly stable market value. Large discounts or very low prices may indicate that the product is not original.
3.3 Check the Packaging and Label
When the card arrives, check the packaging and label carefully. Counterfeit cards often come with poor-quality packaging and printing errors. The font of the text, the weight of the paper, and even the manufacturer's logo should be carefully analyzed. If anything seems out of the ordinary, the product may be counterfeit.
Fake card - Image Credit: Disclosure
3.4 Testing the Card Before Using It
Here’s the main tip to follow. Before trusting a memory card to store your important photos or videos, do some testing. This is your best chance to spot a fake card. Here are some ways to make sure the card is working properly:
• Test the capacity: Try transferring a large number of files to the card. A counterfeit card may appear to have 256GB, but in reality, the actual storage is much less. If the card starts to fail before reaching the advertised capacity, it is probably counterfeit.
One software that can be used to test the capacity of a memory card is ValiDrive.
ValiDrive performs a quick, random scan across the drive’s stated storage space. At each point, it checks to see if the random test data is successfully written and read.
ValiDrive - Image Credit: Disclosure
• Test the write speed: Use programs like CrystalDiskMark to check the read and write speed of the card. If the speed is much lower than what the card promises, this is another warning sign.
• Check the integrity of the files: After transferring large files, such as high-resolution videos or images, check that they are intact and accessible. Using tools such as H2testw can help detect write failures and file corruption.
4. Understand the Technical Specifications of the Memory Card
Another important point is to understand the specifications of the memory card. Memory cards have different speed classes, such as UHS-I, UHS-II, and UHS-III. In addition, there are ratings such as V30, V60, and V90 to ensure that the card has enough speed to record high-definition videos (such as 4K).
5. Memory Card Maintenance and Care
Once you have purchased a reliable card, remember to take good care of it. It is important to ensure that the memory card is kept in good working order. Avoid exposing it to extreme conditions, such as excessive humidity or very high temperatures. Remember that it is an electronic device and the electronic circuitry inside can be damaged if it is bent, broken, or impacted – this can physically damage it, which can corrupt the stored data or even make it inaccessible.
Always eject the card correctly before removing it from the device is also essential to ensure that the data is saved correctly and does not become corrupted.
Conclusion
The increasing quality of digital cameras brings with it the need for reliable storage, but the presence of counterfeit memory cards poses a major challenge for photographers. It is essential to learn how to identify and test these cards to ensure the safety of recordings and avoid unpleasant surprises.
When choosing your memory card, be cautious and avoid scams involving counterfeit products. By buying from reliable stores, testing the products and paying attention to the details, you will ensure that your files are not corrupted by a purchasing error. Don't let the concern about counterfeits ruin your work and learn how to deal with this situation!
By following these tips, you will be well prepared to capture all those valuable moments safely and without unpleasant surprises, ensuring that the photographic records, whether from professional work or not, are preserved with quality and security.
And if necessary, trust Vexus to recover your lost data!
