Archive for March, 2009
Posted by flashchiptutor on March 26, 2009
Beware Sony Microvault model USM16024 advertised as 16GB with a packaging label of 16G is a counterfeit – fake! Sony never produced this usb flash drive. Sold on wholesaler internet sites in China and Hong Kong. Often sold as “upgraded” – there is no such thing. This drive is unlikely to have a real capacity of more than 512MB. This model is the favorite Sony Micro vault counterfeit sold on eBay. It comes in other sizes and packaging. Avoid being frauded or scammed. Do not buy this usb flash drive, you risk data loss. Do not sell this usb flash drive!
Important Reading:
Report in to SOSFakeFlash if your testing confirms you have a false capacity device.
The fake shown above has been around a long time.
Please report any internet listing like this to:
stopfakes@am.sony.com
The closest historical model that appears similar was USM16
The only similarity is the packaging and the rounded shape.
Visit http://sosfakeflash.wordpress.com/ for the list of sites in the FrankenFlash Project. You will find plenty of evidence on this counterfeit line that has been documented.
Posted in Micro Vault | Tagged: Counterfeit Flash Drives, Counterfeit Sony, eBay Fake Flash Guides, Fake 16GB USB Flash Drive, FlashDriveFacts, FrankenFlash Project, Fraud USB Flash, SONY MICRO VAULT, SOSFakeFlash | Leave a Comment »
Posted by flashchiptutor on March 26, 2009
Beware Sony Microvault model USM4042 advertised as 32GB with a packaging label of 32G is a counterfeit – fake! Sony never produced this usb flash drive. Sold on wholesaler internet sites in China and Hong Kong. Often sold as “upgraded” – there is no such thing. This drive is unlikely to have a real capacity of more than 512MB. This model is the favorite Sony Micro vault counterfeit sold on eBay. It comes in other sizes and packaging. Avoid being frauded or scammed. Do not buy this usb flash drive, you risk data loss. Do not sell this usb flash drive!
Important Reading:
Report in to SOSFakeFlash if your testing confirms you have a false capacity device.
The fake shown above has been around a long time.
Please report any internet listing to:
stopfakes@am.sony.com
The closest historical model that appears similar was USM32
The only similarity is the packaging and the rounded shape.
Visit http://sosfakeflash.wordpress.com/ for the list of sites in the FrankenFlash Project. You will find plenty of evidence on this counterfeit line that has been documented.
Posted in Micro Vault | Tagged: Counterfeit Flash Drives, Counterfeit Sony, eBay Fake Flash Guides, Fake 32GB USB Flash Drive, FlashDriveFacts, FrankenFlash Project, Fraud USB Flash, SONY MICRO VAULT, SOSFakeFlash | Leave a Comment »
Posted by flashchiptutor on March 26, 2009
Beware Sony Microvault model advertised as 60GB with a packaging label of 60G is a counterfeit – fake! Sony never produced this usb flash drive. Sold on wholesaler internet sites in China and Hong Kong. Often sold as “upgraded” – there is no such thing. This drive is unlikely to have a real capacity of more than 512MB. This model is the favorite Sony Micro vault counterfeit sold on eBay. It comes in other sizes and packaging. Avoid being frauded or scammed. Do not buy this usb flash drive, you risk data loss. Do not sell this usb flash drive!
Important Reading:
Report in to SOSFakeFlash if your testing confirms you have a false capacity device.
The fake shown above has been around a long time and 60GB or 60G is very bad flash drive math. Whoever dreamed up that label was thinking hard disks not flash drives. Sizing is 1GB, 2GB, 4GB, 8GB, 16GB, 32GB, 64GB etc.
Please report any internet listing to:
stopfakes@am.sony.com
Visit http://sosfakeflash.wordpress.com/ for the list of sites in the FrankenFlash Project. You will find plenty of evidence on this counterfeit line that has been documented.
Posted in Micro Vault | Tagged: Counterfeit Flash Drives, Counterfeit Sony, eBay Fake Flash Guides, Fake 60GB USB Flash Drive, FlashDriveFacts, FrankenFlash Project, Fraud USB Flash, SONY MICRO VAULT, SOSFakeFlash | 1 Comment »
Posted by flashchiptutor on March 26, 2009
Beware Sony Microvault model USM64024 advertised as 64GB with a packaging label of 64G is a counterfeit – fake! Sony never produced this usb flash drive. Sold on wholesaler internet sites in China and Hong Kong. Often sold as “upgraded” – there is no such thing. This drive is unlikely to have a real capacity of more than 512MB. This model is the favorite Sony Micro vault counterfeit sold on eBay. It comes in other sizes and packaging. Avoid being frauded or scammed. Do not buy this usb flash drive, you risk data loss. Do not sell this usb flash drive!
Important Reading:
Report in to SOSFakeFlash if your testing confirms you have a false capacity device.
The fakes shown above has been around a long time.
Please report any internet listing to:
stopfakes@am.sony.com
The closest historical model that appears similar was USM64
The only similarity is the packaging and the rounded shape.
Visit http://sosfakeflash.wordpress.com/ for the list of sites in the FrankenFlash Project. You will find plenty of evidence on this counterfeit line that has been documented.
Posted in Micro Vault | Tagged: Counterfeit Flash Drives, Counterfeit Sony, eBay Fake Flash Guides, Fake 64GB USB Flash Drive, FlashDriveFacts, FrankenFlash Project, Fraud USB Flash, SONY MICRO VAULT, SOSFakeFlash | 9 Comments »
Posted by flashchiptutor on March 26, 2009
Beware Sony Microvault model USM120024 advertised as 120GB with a packaging label of 120G is a counterfeit – fake! Sony never produced this usb flash drive. Sold on wholesaler internet sites in China and Hong Kong. Often sold as “upgraded” – there is no such thing. This drive is unlikely to have a real capacity of more than 512MB. This model is the favorite Sony Micro vault counterfeit sold on eBay. It comes in other sizes and packaging. Avoid being frauded or scammed. Do not buy this usb flash drive, you risk data loss. Do not sell this usb flash drive!
Important Reading:
Report in to SOSFakeFlash if your testing confirms you have a false capacity device.
The fake shown above has been around a long time.
Please report any internet listing to:
stopfakes@am.sony.com
The closest historical model that appears similar was USM128U2G
The only similarity is the packaging and the rounded shape.
Visit http://sosfakeflash.wordpress.com/ for the list of sites in the FrankenFlash Project. You will find plenty of evidence on this counterfeit line that has been documented.
Posted in Micro Vault | Tagged: Counterfeit Flash Drives, Counterfeit Sony, eBay Fake Flash Guides, Fake 120GB USB Flash Drive, FlashDriveFacts, FrankenFlash Project, Fraud USB Flash, SONY MICRO VAULT, SOSFakeFlash | Leave a Comment »
Posted by flashchiptutor on March 26, 2009
Beware Sony Microvault model USM240024 advertised as 240GB with a packaging label of 240G is a counterfeit – fake! Sony never produced this usb flash drive. Sold on wholesaler internet sites in China and Hong Kong. Often sold as “upgraded” – there is no such thing. This drive is unlikely to have a real capacity of more than 512MB. This model is the favorite Sony Micro vault counterfeit sold on eBay. It comes in other sizes and packaging. Avoid being frauded or scammed. Do not buy this usb flash drive, you risk data loss. Do not sell this usb flash drive!
This is a very popular article. If you bought one of these drives, please send the details to sosfakeflashdrive@gmail.com
Important Reading:
Report in to SOSFakeFlash if your testing confirms you have a false capacity device.
The fakes shown above have been around a long time.
Please report any internet listing to:
stopfakes@am.sony.com
The closest historical model that appears similar was USM256D
The only similarity is the packaging and the rounded shape.
Visit http://sosfakeflash.wordpress.com/ for the list of sites in the FrankenFlash Project. You will find plenty of evidence on this counterfeit line that has been documented.
Posted in Micro Vault | Tagged: Counterfeit Flash Drives, Counterfeit Sony, eBay Fake Flash Guides, Fake 240GB USB Flash Drive, FlashDriveFacts, FrankenFlash Project, Fraud USB Flash, SONY MICRO VAULT, SOSFakeFlash | 16 Comments »
Posted by flashchiptutor on March 26, 2009
Beware Sony Microvault model USM250024 advertised as 250GB with a packaging label of 250G is a counterfeit – fake! Sony never produced this usb flash drive. Sold on wholesaler internet sites in China and Hong Kong. Often sold as “upgraded” – there is no such thing. This drive is unlikely to have a real capacity of more than 512MB. This model is the favorite Sony Micro vault counterfeit sold on eBay. It comes in other sizes and packaging. Avoid being frauded or scammed. Do not buy this usb flash drive, you risk data loss. Do not sell this usb flash drive!
Important Reading:
Report in to SOSFakeFlash if your testing confirms you have a false capacity device.
The fake shown above has been around a long time.
Please report any internet listing to:
stopfakes@am.sony.com
Visit http://sosfakeflash.wordpress.com/ for the list of sites in the FrankenFlash Project. You will find plenty of evidence on this counterfeit line that has been documented.
Posted in Micro Vault | Tagged: Counterfeit Flash Drives, Counterfeit Sony, eBay Fake Flash Guides, Fake 250GB USB Flash Drive, FlashDriveFacts, FrankenFlash Project, Fraud USB Flash, SONY MICRO VAULT, SOSFakeFlash | Leave a Comment »
Posted by flashchiptutor on March 26, 2009
Beware Sony Microvault model USM360024 advertised as 360GB with a packaging label of 360G is a counterfeit – fake! Sony never produced this usb flash drive. Sold on wholesaler internet sites in China and Hong Kong. Often sold as “upgraded” – there is no such thing. This drive is unlikely to have a real capacity of more than 512MB. This model is the favorite Sony Micro vault counterfeit sold on eBay. It comes in other sizes and packaging. Avoid being frauded or scammed. Do not buy this usb flash drive, you risk data loss. Do not sell this usb flash drive!
Important Reading:
Report in to SOSFakeFlash if your testing confirms you have a false capacity device.
The fakes shown above have been around a long time.
Please report any internet listing to:
stopfakes@am.sony.com
Visit http://sosfakeflash.wordpress.com/ for the list of sites in the FrankenFlash Project. You will find plenty of evidence on this counterfeit line that has been documented.
Posted in Micro Vault | Tagged: Counterfeit Flash Drives, Counterfeit Sony, eBay Fake Flash Guides, Fake 3606GB USB Flash Drive, FlashDriveFacts, FrankenFlash Project, Fraud USB Flash, SONY MICRO VAULT, SOSFakeFlash | Leave a Comment »
Posted by flashchiptutor on March 26, 2009
Beware Sony Microvault models USM4024, USM500024 advertised as 500GB with a packaging label of 500G are a counterfeit – fake! Sony never produced these usb flash drives. It will be a number of years before there will be a 500GB usb flash drive available. These are the most outrageous and wild false capacity usb flash drives. Sold on wholesaler internet sites in China and Hong Kong. Often sold as “upgraded” – there is no such thing. These drives are unlikely to have a real capacity of more than 512MB. This model type the favorite Sony Micro vault counterfeit sold on eBay. It comes in other sizes and packaging. Avoid being frauded or scammed. Do not buy this usb flash drive, you risk data loss. Do not sell this usb flash drive!
This is a very popular article. If you bought one of these drives, please send the details to sosfakeflashdrive@gmail.com
Important Reading:
Report in to SOSFakeFlash if your testing confirms you have a false capacity device.
The fakes shown above have been around a long time. One is a relabeled item.
Please report any internet listing to:
stopfakes@am.sony.com
Visit http://sosfakeflash.wordpress.com/ for the list of sites in the FrankenFlash Project. You will find plenty of evidence on this counterfeit line that has been documented.
Posted in Micro Vault | Tagged: Counterfeit Flash Drives, Counterfeit Sony, eBay Fake Flash Guides, Fake 500GB USB Flash Drive, FlashDriveFacts, FrankenFlash Project, Fraud USB Flash, Sony Microvault, SOSFakeFlash | 16 Comments »
Posted by flashchiptutor on March 26, 2009
The Sony Microvault brand name is famous, trusted by consumers. Seized by fraudulent sellers,this brand name is used to lure unsuspecting buyers into buying counterfeits and fakes. The dark side of flash drive selling they scam and fraud – hurt both Sony and the general buying public. Advertising capacity as high as 64GB these fakes are as generally 512MB and lower in real size. Current at time of publishing the highest size produced by Sony for Micro Vault is 32GB. These imitations cause data loss. They ruin uninformed resellers on the internet who do not do their product research. eBay is the most popular site for distribution to unsuspecting buyers.
Extremely old models are not found at most Sony sites for inspection. To assist buyers and resellers the FrankenFlash Project has to put together a visual archive to assist in research and to preserve information. We have a list of models, their codes and photos. It will show you the true evolution of the Sony micro vault flash drive. How counterfeiters have used early packaging and attempted to make their imposters seem genuine. The earliest capacities are presented because they provide very important clues for the fakes that will be presented in a new series of articles to be published at FlashDriveFacts.
Covered are the following capacities: 16MB 32MB 64MB 128MB 256MB 512MB 1GB 2GB 4GB 8GB
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Advice, Articles, Brands Flash Devices, Flash Drive Education | Tagged: FlashDriveFacts, FrankenFlash Project, Sony Microvault, Sony Microvault Archive USB Flash Drives, Sony Microvault Fakes, SOSFakeFlash | 1 Comment »
Posted by flashchiptutor on March 22, 2009
Is the quality or grade of a flash chip important to a usb flash drive, memory card or MP Player? Is it a factor in the wholesale and retail price? Does it really matter? What does a genuine usb flash drive from a brand name use, MP Players and memory cards. What do generic no name brands use? What do fraudsters and scammers use in their counterfeit fake false capacity items? Is it worth the effort to repair a fake counterfeit? If you repair a fake, what do you need to know? Why is this information important to buyers and resellers?
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Brands Flash Devices, Flash Chips, Flash Drive Education | Tagged: Counterfeit Flash Drives, eBay Fake Flash Guides, FlashDriveFacts, FrankenFlash Project, SOSFakeFlash, Technology, USB Flash Drives | 319 Comments »
Posted by flashchiptutor on March 21, 2009
Are you looking for a bargain price for a usb flash drive? To Buy or to sell? What is the real cost from a wholesaler in 2009? Want to be sure you aren’t paying too much? Or that you might be cheated or scammed?
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Advice, Articles, Flash Drive Education | Tagged: China Fake Flash, Counterfeit Flash Drives, eBay Fake Flash Guides, FlashDriveFacts, FrankenFlash Project, Fraud USB Flash, H2testw, Hong Kong Fake Flash, SOSFakeFlash, Usb Flash Tools | 42 Comments »
Posted by flashchiptutor on March 21, 2009
How do you tell a true Transcend USB Flash Drive from a Counterfeit (Fake – False Capacity)? Where can you check?
Transcend is the latest Brand Name to suffer from Counterfeiting for USB Flash Drives, joining Kingston and Sony. SOSFakeFlash recently received their first confirmation of a Transcend 32 JetFlash V30 USB Flash Drive being sold on eBay by seller hellopetpet. The Transcend 32 JetFlash V30 is only made up to 16GB in size. When SOSFakeFlash reviewed eBay for Transcend Flash drives it was not difficult to detect the true capacity from the counterfeits. Like Kingston, Transcend uses colour coding. Within a few minutes two other sellers were detected selling counterfeit Transcend 32 JetFlash V30 flash drives, ren-ren-buy and maya.city .
You should visit the Official Transcend site to check out what they sell. USB Flash Drives Made By Transcend
For older models, type the model in on google, then look for the transcend website. Like most manufacturers these days they don’t show an archive of older models, but like many sites, the pages are still there.
Transcend is very much aware of the counterfeiting of their products and have set up product verification.
In order to protect our customers rights and our superior brand image, we have set up this site to allow customers to verify the authenticity of their products.
Product Verification
Go to their webpage and verify the flash drive you bought. You can use it to check other products to see if they are genuine too. If you don’t see your drive, get a message that they did not make it, have doubts or questions, please contact them for help:
techsupport@transcend.com.tw
If you performed testing and found you bought a counterfeit, let them know. Tell them where you bought the item and from whom. The only way to put a stop to this problem is to help. You probably chose transcend to AVOID buying a fake in the first place. Let them know where you bought your counterfeit from!
If you need or want to test the real capacity of your usb flash drive see: H2testw 1.4 – Gold Standard In Detecting USB Counterfeit Drives If it turns out you bought it on eBay and is a fake, please Report A Fake to SOSFakeFlash.
Posted in Counterfeits Transcend, Validation | Tagged: 32 JetFlash V30 Counterfeit, Flash Drive Facts, SOSFakeFlash, Transcend USB Flash Drive | 1 Comment »
Posted by flashchiptutor on March 21, 2009
New! This article contains a poll you can vote on.
H2testw 1.4 has proven itself to be the best of breed for detecting counterfeit Flash drives. It is extremely easy to use and proves detailed information. Created by Harald Bögeholz, the interface is in German but has the option to run in English. It is free and standalone. Nothing is installed into the operating system. Designed for Windows it can run under Linux if Wine is installed. It will not run under Macs. If your computer can not run the software – ask a colleague or friend who has a windows based computer to help you test. To learn more and for download information Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Advice, Testing | Tagged: eBay, eBay Fake Flash Guides, Fraud USB Flash, H2testw, H2testw 1.4, SOSFakeFlash, Usb Flash Tools | 16 Comments »
Posted by flashchiptutor on March 20, 2009
Did you buy an 8GB, 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, 120GB or 128GB Kingston USB Flash drive you think is a fake or counterfeit? Countries in Asia are very vunerable to these counterfeit items, but Europe and even North America are experiencing an increase of these items circulating for sale. What does Kingston have to say? Is there a tool you can use to check quickly to determine if you have an authentic item? Yes Kingston is aware of the problem and they have set up a web page to help. Yes there is a tool. SOSFakeFlash also found technical support numbers you can call.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Counterfeits Kingston, Validation | Tagged: Counterfeit Flash Drives, eBay Fake Flash Guides, eBayFakeFlashSeller, Flash Drive Facts, Fraud USB Flash, Kingston Counterfeit USB Flash Drives, SOSFakeFlash | 18 Comments »
Flashchiptutor's Flash Drive Facts 