Scam Alert: Gamer Finds DDR2 RAM in Sealed DDR5 Box from Amazon
Scams in the hardware market are becoming increasingly sophisticated, making it difficult for even the most cautious buyers to avoid being duped. In a recent incident, a gamer discovered that their supposedly new DDR5 RAM was actually old DDR2 memory with counterfeit labels.
The Incident
The victim, known online as BravoNorris, purchased four XPG Caster 32 GB DDR5‑6000 CL40 kits from Amazon Spain. Each kit was supposed to contain two sticks of 16 GB DDR5 memory. However, upon opening one of the boxes, BravoNorris found two sticks of DDR2 memory with fake DDR5 heatsink labels. The box was sealed and looked genuine, but the contents were far from what was advertised.
How the Scam Worked
Further inspection revealed a small metal plate inside the box, likely added to match the weight of the original DDR5 memory. This suggests that someone had previously purchased a genuine memory kit, replaced the contents with old DDR2 sticks, resealed the box, and returned it to Amazon. This type of fraud is known as return fraud and is becoming more common in the hardware market.
Wider Context of Hardware Scams
The incident is not isolated. The hardware market has seen a surge in scams, particularly during the recent memory and graphics‑card shortages. Earlier this year, scammers were reported selling non‑existent RTX 5090 graphics cards for thousands of dollars. In another case, $90,000 worth of RTX 5090 GPUs were replaced with cross‑body backpacks in a retail store.
How to Protect Yourself
Experts advise recording the unboxing process for expensive hardware purchases. This includes stripping back the shrink‑wrap and inspecting the serial numbers. Such documentation can be crucial in dispute resolution with retailers.
Conclusion
As hardware scams become more common, buyers need to be extra vigilant. Recording unboxings can help protect against fraud and ensure that you get what you pay for.
