As memory prices soar, the market sees a surge in scammers. Counterfeit DDR5 RAM has started appearing across various online platforms and gray-market retailers. Some of these fake modules are visually convincing until they are physically dissected. According to Digital Trends, the chips on these counterfeit RAM sticks are not memory at all but rather fiberglass boards crafted to look like DRAM.
Issues with these fake products came into the spotlight when a Japanese user purchased an alleged SK Hynix SO-DIMM laptop module and decided to take it apart after suspecting its authenticity. Inside, instead of memory chips, they found non-functional fiberglass parts.
These fake RAM sticks are sometimes openly sold on auction sites like Yahoo Japan under labels like “untested” or “junk,” where sellers refuse to accept returns. The deception becomes even more problematic with desktop DDR5 kits, where large heat spreaders cover the so-called memory chips, leaving no way to verify the product’s authenticity until it fails to function correctly.
Rising DDR5 prices, driven by AI demand, contribute to this kind of fraud. Memory manufacturers have prioritized enterprise production over consumer availability, leading to an ongoing supply issue. Companies like Framework have had to significantly increase their DDR5 prices, and major laptop manufacturers have warned of further price hikes. The situation underscores a worldwide memory crisis, with no immediate resolution in sight.