Quick Detection Genuine or Counterfeit Kingston DT150 32GB DataTraveler Michael’s Guide

eBay is not a safe place to buy usb flash drives. eBay sellers in the orient get a lot of bad press. People are suspicious. But you can just as easily buy a fake or counterfeit flash drive from eBay in the United States, United Kingdom, Europe or even in Australia.

Reprinted from SOSFakeFlash.

The FrankenFlash Project has been busy publishing alerts and documenting Kingston DT150 DataTraveler counterfeits (see articles at the end ). First 32GB fakes appeared, then 64GB fakes and now 32GB fakes have spread to many eBay countries. The United States is a serious target.

What are the signs for a counterfeit 32GB DT150 DataTraveler fake? How can you tell? Michael shows you how.

Michael is a recent victim. He bought from an American eBay seller, tested his drive and found it to be a counterfeit. Immediately Michael created a dispute at Paypal and dialogued with the seller. The seller refunded him but Paypal would not release the funds, demanding he return the counterfeit. In the end both seller and buyer united against PayPal to solve the issue and make the refund come true. See http://sosfakeflash.wordpress.com/report-a-fake/comment-page-2/#comment-2094

So what does a counterfeit DT150 32GB DataTraveler look like?

There is no laser etching on the usb connector front with serial information or model information. Kingston adds this as a counter measure to counterfeiting. Below is what this etching looks like for a genuine usb flash drive.

Kingston DataTraveler DT150’s are laser etched on their usb plugs with drive model information , size and a serial number too. This is a primary anti-counterfeiting defense. The one shown is for a DT150 64GB flash drive.

Kingston DT150 32GB packaging front. Note this is sealed packaging used by genuine kingston DT150 usb flash drives and not the dead giveaway of plastic snap pack. It also means that counterfeiters are able to duplicate more expensive packaging.

usb plug back of a counterfeit 32GB DT150.

The counterfeit Kingston DT150 32GB packaging back with no serial information and upc code for it. All genuine Kingston DT150’s have this information inside the packaging.

It is unique, every single drive has a different serial. No two drives have the same one. It is missing here. In some counterfeits, you will find a serial label but when you check at Kingstons authentication site you will find it has already been used. It you find in a retail store, they all have the same serial number information on the back, stay away!

Kingston DT150 32GB front LED. In every report so far, the LED does not work. Not surprising really. The insides are different for a fake. The circuit board and connectors are not the same, so how could they make the LED work? The LED is really “pretend”, just to look a bit like the real one. Otherwise everyone would recognize the fake immediately.

Kingston DT150 32GB front. Many people also report the casing is made of lighter material than a genuine version and does not weigh as much.

Kingston DT150 32GB back.

Kingston label is peeling from the casing.

If you bought a counterfeit usb flash drive on eBay please report in to SOSFakeFlash, using the Report A Fake Tab For Information.

Read: Kingston USB Flash Drives – Detect Counterfeits And Fakes – Product Verification

Additional information published by the FrankenFlash Project:

May 27, 2009 Genuine or Counterfeit Kingston DT150 64GB DataTraveler – Quick Detection – A Guide

May 25, 2009 eBay Counterfeit Kingston DT150 64GB DataTraveler USB Flash Drives Revealed – Case of eBay Seller fufu$$

May 20, 2009 fufu$$ And The Counterfeit Kingston DT150 64GB DataTraveler USB Flash Drives

May 19, 2009 celeste_689 Ebay Fake Flash Seller Alert – USA – Counterfeit Kingston DT150 64GB DataTraveler

May 18, 2009 fufu$$ Ebay Fake Flash Seller Alert – Australia – Counterfeit Kingston DT150 64GB DataTraveler

April 12, 2009 minggege99 Ebay Fake Flash Seller High Alert Deregistered – China. eBay and PayPal Try To Block Victims From Refunds For Counterfeit Kingston DT150 32GB DataTraveler 150

April 9, 2009 32GB Kingston DT150 32GB DataTraveler USB Flash Drive Counterfeits eBay Scandal – Wholesale Costs For Counterfeits

March 29, 2009 niuren2008 Ebay Fake Flash Seller High Alert Deregistered – China – Counterfeit DT150 32GB 32 GB Data Traveler 150

The first story:

March 16, 2009 Kingston Counterfeit Fake 32GB DataTraveler 150 USB Flash Drive Found On eBay