An alarming DDR5 scam on Amazon swaps old DDR2 sticks for fake DDR5 kits via return fraud. Learn how to spot counterfeit memory. Record serials and unboxings.
© A. Krivonosov
A new scam involving DDR5 memory has surfaced online, and it can mislead even careful buyers. A reader of a specialist outlet reported that old DDR2 sticks were sold to him as new DDR5 modules, dressed up with stickers and added weight to mimic branded heatspreaders.
The incident unfolded when he purchased a 32GB XPG Caster DDR5-6000 kit on Amazon in Spain. He ordered four kits: three arrived immediately, and a fourth turned up a few days later. According to the tracking numbers, all parcels originated from Ireland. One kit was resold, another was installed and worked without issues, and the swap was discovered only when he opened the third box during a PC build.
From the outside, the packaging looked genuine and came shrink-wrapped. Inside, however, were plain DDR—or even DDR2—modules with stickers mimicking DDR5 markings, plus a metal plate to create the heft typical of modules with heatspreaders. Through the box window, the counterfeit could pass for the real thing, but a closer look at the print quality raised doubts.
The buyer believes this was a case of return fraud: someone replaced the contents, carefully repackaged the product, and sent it back, after which the kit was resold as new. For comparison, he kept one unopened kit side by side to highlight the differences between the original and the fake.
A refund request has already been submitted, but it is still unclear whether Amazon will approve it. The report notes that when buying pricey components it is worth recording an unboxing and the serial numbers, although even that does not always guarantee a successful return.
This case is a reminder that polished packaging and factory seals are no proof of authenticity, and that return loops can sometimes let a convincing swap slip back into the regular retail flow.