You can now buy a genuine super sized fake Sony Micro Vault drive on eBay! These drives are designed for those who want a large capacity flash drive and are confident in Sony’s reputation. You can also buy less exotic versions with just the “Sony” brand name. These are special usb flash drives – designed to help you lose your precious data and of course empty your wallet too.
The fake flash sellers who are eager to sell to you on eBay come in many guises. Some set up respectable looking listings – very business like. Others sport the home grown look of a local seller just trying to offer something nice at a reasonable price. Others are very crafty. FakeFlashNews and SOSFakeFlash have already published other articles on the subject of counterfeits under the Sony brand name, just type “Sony” into the search box to see what is available at the sites.
In this article we will cover the latest seller discovered on eBay – lozzy_17, Sony Electronics Warning and Help, Where to find the real models produced by Sony and also present historical background on Alerts to Fake Sony Flash drives. We are even have the 16 report written by BJ Gleason available for download.
Just this week Zahid issued urgent alerts at SOSFakeFlash about an ebay seller lozzy_17. Zahid has been paroling eBay for suspicious listings – he read the warning issued about Private Auctions by SOSFakeFlash and the need for volunteers to help. We fell off our chairs – What? Somebody is selling a 500GB Flash Memory Drive? You’ve got to be kidding! There aren’t going to be drives like that available to the public for several years. Why? They are not there yet in technology – miniaturizing the flash chips so they are the same size at current USB memory sticks will take some work! Selling at a consumer affordable price, that will also be a challenge. Right now the highest available size is 64GB and come from manufacturers of memory chips.
This article is a MUST Read for anyone who has a Sony Counterfeit, needs help for a Sony counterfeit flash drive or wants to know what is a real or not real for Sony Flash Drives.
So how does eBay seller lozzy_17 fit in with Sony fakes? We examined the listings and the photo’s. The pictures are so tiny. Clever! As you enlarge them they loose resolution. We are familiar with the packaging for Sony Fakes – not new to us. And we had good luck with the 120GB drive. Sony clearly indicated on the packaging. Tiny pictures that are murky is normally not how a seller wants to present his wares. What really got our attention was using PRIVATE AUCTION listings to hide the buyer id. Seller lozzy_17 was careful NOT to mention the Sony Brand name. Odd. If you are offering a genuine Sony product at a fabulous price you would shout it from the roof tops! We won’t comment on the other things the seller sells except that it is not “main stream”.
The sizes lozzy_17 is offering fits in perfectly with what Sony has to say later in this article. We intent to capture and preserve the information as proof that such things are really being sold on eBay. Hard to believe but true.
Seller: lozzy_17 ( 8 )
USB 2.0 upgrade 500GB Flash Memory Drive
Item number: 260343016192
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USB 2.0 upgrade 360GB Flash Memory Drive
Item number: 260343019545
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USB 2.0 120GB upgrade Flash Memory Drive
Item number: 260343021770
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USB 2.0 Brand New 64GB Flash Memory Drive
Item number: 260341270021
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USB 2.0 Brand New 32GB Flash Memory Drive
Item number: 260343072543
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We are dying to know – exactly what does seller lozzy_17 mean by “Up Grade”? Is it an upgrade when one buys counterfeit flash usb drives? That is, upgrading from a true capacity (non data loss drive) to a false capacity drive (upgrading to data loss)? We aren’t sure what he meant.
Here are some more eBay Sellers currently listing similar merchandise:
kg_enterprise – 260339009283
64GB USB FLASH MEMORY STICK NOT 8GB,16GB,32GB BUT 64GB!
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001pawlak – 150319994174
64GB 2.0 USB Flash Memory Drive
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wise2009 – 180319188074
High Speed USB 62.375GB Micro Vault
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bennyboy182 160308847846
64G USB Flash Drive
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The listings could on and on and on. There are always new ones. But you can get the picture from the photos – they are not genuine Sony flash drives! If you see any packaging like that watch out!
Please read: Sony Electronics WARNING on COUNTERFEIT PRODUCTS
written by Steve Haber, Senior Vice President – Digital Imaging & Audio Devices. Sony has a few important words for you on flash drives. They also have an email address you can write to. Sony’s Brand Integrity Unit at:
stopfakes@am.sony.com
The most important thing they have to say?
Sony HAS NEVER manufactured a USB Micro Vault in the following capacities: 32gb, 64gb, 120gb, 240gb, 360gb.
If you have purchased a Sony flash drive in the capacities described above, whether on eBay or elsewhere – send the fake flash seller the url address to Sony’s message on eBay – the Warning link above! Advise that you will take action. Also in any claim make sure to send the url address to both eBay and PayPal if you purchased your fake on eBay.
If you want to buy a Sony Mirco Vault flash drive, do your homework first. Please visit Sony’s site to see what they really make in models. If they don’t offer the drive you see for sale – it isn’t one of their products – read FAKE – counterfeit!
Historical Information
2007 Vermutlich gefälscht: Sony Vaio USB-Speicherstick 8 GB by Markus Hansen
2005 Report on “Sony 8GB Micro Vault USB 2.0” memory stick 14 Dec 2005 by BJ Gleason, bjgleas@gmail.com
Written in 2005 16 Pages PDF 553KB download The Seoul Computer club Closed December 2008
Update April 4th, 2009 – Visit these sites for additional information:
- New! Flash Drive Education. Fakes and Counterfeits http://flashdrivefacts.wordpress.com/
- Documented Fake Flash Sellers. Help. Main site: http://sosfakeflash.wordpress.com/
- Known Solutions For Repairing Flash Usb Devices. http://fixfakeflash.wordpress.com/
Fake Flash News - Internet & eBay Fraud 
stefan
January 2, 2012
met oud en nieuw heb ik via een goeie vriend een Sony High-Speed usb 2.0 500 GB stick overgenomen
maar volgens mij als ik het zo lees op deze site dan is het een nepper.
hij is namelijk wel te installeren maar je kan er niks mee.
heb ik nou een neppert in handen of niet want zijn dochter had er ook 1 maar die werkte wel meteen?
Gaby Castell
September 8, 2011
Hello Guys,
It happened to me too. Here is the link of this fake USB memory:
http://www.dhgate.com/2011new-hello-kitty-64gb-usb-flash-memory/p_ff8080813097879b0130b80b3a090bd6.html
The same case, the USB memory is a big fake!
Benji Matthews
August 29, 2011
A friend bought one of these the other day and same thing…. I laughed cause the person she bought it off, he bought 10 for $200 for the ‘wholesaler’ and now he is trying to sell them each for $50. So given the date of the last post, 2010 I think… people are STILL getting done over.
MRS
June 6, 2010
O problema da pirataria não esta sendo combatido na fonte que seria na china comunista e alguns paises da asia , que todo o planeta sabe é o grande foco desta praga ; os países serios criam um produto e china e companhia se empenham em piratear o produto. Em relação a china os covardes se escondem atrás de um arsenal nuclear então pelo jeito vão continuar seguros para inundar o mundo com suas copias fajutas e sem nenhuma qualidade o que nós resta é nós como consumidores dizer-mos não ao mal e presta atenção contra os pilantras e enganadores,parece não ter solução a curto prazo para a pirataria
Ahmad
May 8, 2010
my friend got sony micro vault 500g and i am computer maintenance guy for more than 7 years
i was not readable and windows can not format it and show no file system to choose in format window. i spend over 2 hours and i get it fixed finally after i format in many ways to get it fixed.
485 free space 😀
any one need help contact me on
Ahmad19jo@hotmail.com
Sagar Swan
March 14, 2010
Hello i was looking for a high compacity flash drive nd i knew ebay must have for cheap so i look and find like 500bg worth flash drive so i did research and found out from here that its fake, i have not bought it but im glad i haven’t, heres the web link url.
http://cgi.ebay.com/USB-sony-500GB-Flash-Memory-Drive_W0QQitemZ190380412904QQcmdZViewItemQQptZPCC_Drives_Storage_Internal?hash=item2c538e8fe8
Wakeel
February 27, 2010
Dear Josh, I am sorry to say that you also have become the victim of Counterfiet (fake) sony product.
Always remember to check the part number on manufacturer website before you buy anything off the ebay.
There are many countries like China, Hongkong, Taiwan etc are producing and selling fake USB Flash Drives.
At the moment you can not do anything but report this to Sony Customer service using their website.
I personally would advice you not to buy anything specially in electronic off the ebay because Ebay takes full responsibility if you are being cheated on Ebay and takes serious actions against sellers who cheat buyers on Ebay.
on the other hand you can contact your seller if he / she can refund for your USB Drive but in my view they will not refund your money.
I am really sorry to hear that you got loss..
Regards
Josh
February 25, 2010
I purchased a fake sony 64gb flash drive off of ebay. its silver, and actually is only 8gb. the problem is, when i plug it in, it says its 64gb, but if i put more than 8gb on it, i need to reformat and i lose everything that was on it. does anyone know how to fix this problem?
beware!! i purchased this drive off of ebay from seller: wahdl2022
Wakeel
November 28, 2009
I am sorry to hear that your husband is the victim of fake sony flash drive.
I suggest you to report this to Ebay and Paypal as soon as possible in order to get your money back.
also ebay will further investigate about this fake seller and may suspend his ebay membership.
do not waste your time report this to Ebay immediately.
Regards
mel
November 26, 2009
hi, my hubby has bid (EBAY)(250535966697) on a sony vaio 64g flash drive. i reckon its a fake.what do you think? please help it end in 4 hours.
techreporters
October 9, 2009
To John
No your post comment was not rejected. Comments are not automatically or immediately added to posts in many cases. If you look at the spam counter for the site, it will be obvious why.
We don’t necessarily mind people promoting their own sites – it is a community. Naturally we will review do an inspection. You would be surprised at some of the odd things we encounter.
PC optimization is a very useful and valid subject. There are a few members in the FrankenFlash Project that actively engage in keeping their machines lean and fit. There is a lot of junk that can accumulate on a machine reducing it’s speed.
FakeFlashNews moderators spend a lot of time investigating. Volenteers as all others on the project, most have full time employment. It is a difficult balance.
So no, your post was not rejected – just waiting for approval.
You are correct John that manufacturers will not give away technology at low prices. In fact they have reduced production at some FABs or halted altogether to clear up the existing inventory.
In terms of sizes for flash memory chips or devices. No one offers 512GB yet, the largest size is 256GB and it is very expensive. Reduced size is a plus, but how long it might take to file up a 256GB is at issue. It depends on so many different factors from the computers cpu, speed of usb ports, usb controller chip family on the usb flash drive.
Information is also stored very differently on flash memory chips – it is not the same as for hard drives. Not certain yet (see in research) is the degree of risk factor for data loss on a flash memory chip drive. We have not found anyone offering recover services for usb flash drives. The question is why. Brand name sites also mention they do not offer recovery services or even recommend third party companies. This is unusual. There are many companies that offer data recovery from traditional hard drives.
We see the speed issue as probably the main bottle neck for large usb flash drives as pen sticks. Some are now hybrid, having a tradtional usb connector at one end and an eSata connector at the other end. The eSata connection is much faster. These hybrid drives the last time we checked were only offered up to 32GB in capacity. There might be 64GB soon. eSata connections rule out a lot of older computers from being able to use.
At FlashDriveFacts, they mention that 16GB and lower are the most stable usb flash drives – anything higher is still a work in progress.
Price is a strong factor from a consumer’s point of view. In many countries is it is possible to buy an external usb hard disk for as little as $80 that will hold 500GB. These drives can easily be partitioned – partitioning usb flash drives are a serious problem. At issue is are the different operationg systems and the file systems they recognize. FAT32 is the one almost all recognize – the common denominator. It has limitations – for example 32GB on windows XP and a maximum size for an indiviual file of 4GB.
Many who work in the project groups do not see usb flash drives as an archiving solution for data. Instead they see them as a transport solution. Carrying files from computer A to computer B. Or simply as a reference where a back of of data files exist elsewhere.
It is unfortunate that so many consumers are not aware of technological limitations, prices or what brand name manufacturers have actually released to market. Sites like DHGate.com are well known as for false capacity items. We would like to point out that there are honest sellers there, only they are extremely hard to find. Like eBay they are buried by the dishonest sellers.
When a seller replies with *uck in respones to inquiries it is very unprofessional and also a sign that the seller is selling false capacity items. These sellers are not happy. They know that the FrankenFlash Project exists and it is making it more difficult for them to sell. Also buyers having discovered something is wrong, research the internet, find our sites and learn the truth. They test and soon go after the sellers who sold them false capacity. Naturally this upsets the sellers and so some in a temper will use bad language in their replies to those asking questions about whether the items are fakes or not.
Sony is a brand name that has been impacted. They are not happy about it and on eBay they have written a guide explaining to members what they make and do not make. When a brand name makes an effort like this to warn eBay members internally, it says a lot. We all appreciate Sony’s efforts on behalf of consumers. We ask that if anyone finds they have purchased a fake (false capacity) item that has the Sony brand name on it, to report to Sony. They need everyone’s help.
John Devine
October 8, 2009
why was my last post rejected, was it because i was promoting my own site on it?
John Devine
October 8, 2009
I was about to buy one on DHGate.com
I thought it was too good to be true, so i researched it, and this site came up along with a dozen more.
I am an electronic engineer, I do know that it ‘is’ physically possible to make them, but not in the tiny size they pictured.
No manufacturer would bring them out yet even if it was possible. They will want to go from 32gb – 64gb -128gb – 256-512-1024gb (could be 3-5 years away before we see a 1TB flash) even then, the price would be more than $50.
It would be bad world economics if manufacturers made memory that size for so cheap.
I am staying well away from these fake goods.
*off DHgate.com I found a nokia N97 for $280 only 193euro. I should have it in a few days. (fingers crossed!)
If you want some Free computer advice go to my blog at http://www.fastpcblog.com I have a list of free software titles that you can download also, (when I say free, I really mean Free, not that free trial crap.)
I originally was thinking of selling some of those 500gb on my site, but not after reading this.
I personally cannot stand sellers like the one above. The fact that he put F*** in his reply, denotes his unprofessionalism. Furthermore, the best way to make money is make the customer happy, so that he will trust you and buy from you again.
Some people are just stupid. The most successful businesses in the world employ that model of repeat sales. It takes the same effort to get 1 customer to buy once as it does to get them to keep buying from you, again and again. (Once you make them happy, the first time that is!)
Sorry I went on a bit of a rant there.
Peace,
John Devine
InspectorTech
August 9, 2009
Wakeel, the frankenflash project is co founded. By sellers of fake flash items who did not know that they were selling bad items and by buyer victims.
Brand name manufacturers are fighting counterfeiting as best they can. It is problem everywhere. Sellers should consult the manufactuers site, not wholesaler sites to see what a company makes. When in doubt, contact the brand name.
The real problem for a lot of small ebay sellers is that they have no idea what the real costs are for nand flash storage chips. That along with not doing detailed research before selling gets a lot into trouble. You are one of the lucky ones. People are trying to contact as many sellers as they can to educate and warn them. The big powersellers, they know exactly what they are selling.
We know of many ebay sellers who stopped selling usb flash drives. Do you know why? Because they could NOT make a profit for selling genuine capacity items, the margin is just too small.
Wakeel, you should report the seller who sold these items to you to the brand name. Also if you are able, take legal action against the seller. We know of several, especially in the United States who did this. In one case, by the time the victim seller was finished, not only did he get all his money back from the wholesaling auction site, but the police showed up at the sellers (the one who sold them at this external auction site) door to cart away his merchandise and use as evidence for charges.
If you don’t like being a victim, then you need to do what ebay buyer victims do – fight back.
Meanwhile the project has no choice but to continue fighting the issue on ebay. It’s not simply an issue of money, though that matters, Wakeel – it is about the horrible data loss that comes with using these fake flash drives. There is no way to replace the data that has been lost. The damage is forever.
Randy
August 6, 2009
Question for Wakeel.
How do you think fake flash sellers can be stopped? You suggest a case be made against the manufactures, then you should expose who you purchased the drives from so more people would know where not to buy drives.
Don’t blame the messenger for advising you about fake flash. They were doing you a favour.
Will ask the question in another way. How do you suggest that fake flash sold by Criminal Gangs based in China be stopped?
Wakeel
August 5, 2009
I wonder the researchers who criticize alot on fake usb sellers why not think that the seller before selling either fake usb drives here was a buyer too.
I am also a buyer before i become seller and being buyer i did my best to find if the USB i am buying is genuine or fake.
All sellers specially from china and Malysia swear on their product’s authenticity to make buyer believe on their products.
when the buyer pays for item and he tries to sell his item he is caught by criticizers.
My question is that people who criticize on fake sellers why not realize the facts and situation happened with seller when he was a buyer of that items?
The critical B***** think they are doing their job in terms of stopping fake sellers but actually they are trying to earn their name and reputation this way.
I strongly advise them they should stop fake usb / devise maker or should file a case against those fake manufacturer.
KittyFireFlash
July 20, 2009
Yes, Tony I agree with you 100%. People should never have all their eggs in one basket.
Recovery of traditional mechanical hard drives is pretty good. Backing up to external hard drives or images, also good as protection.
We have someone digging into the details of flash technology and it is very different.
Curious am I on the new SSD drives…
The wonder of usb flash drives, is their size. They are so small. Perfect for transfer of information (read a copy) from computer A to Computer B. Most of us do not view them as archive storage devices. Nor for continuous read write operations. Wearing their socks off to play video’s or music is fine – provided that again a copy exists else where.
Unfortunately the consumer public at large is ill informed. They are excellent in carrying “copies” of data, but they are definately no replacement for traditional hard disks. Nand flash chip technology has a long way to go.
Also consumers should read the packaging for usb flash drives, brand names in particular. They are not all created equal. Is it a 1 year, 2 year, 5 year or limited lifetime warrenty? The old saying “you get what you pay for” still rings true.
There are many issues, we are concentrating in trying to get the word out to the public.
Sonme of us wish we hand more time to devote to the technology rather than chasing fires and trying to pull people out of the fake flash flames….
The good news is that we don’t think anyone will yet try to counterfeit SSD flash drives. Provided our theories are correct. That is, it is the exposure in the usb controllers for some brands that allows for the reprogramming to occur in the first place.
We are keeping our fingers crossed that companies developing the SSD drives are keeping information under lock and key and have learned from what happened with usb flash drives; have ensured that it can not happen for SSD flash drives. If not, the consumer public will be in a world of pain, in a few years or even less. Fraudsters are always looking for an opportunity…..
Tony
July 19, 2009
Kitty I undersdtand your concerns and now that i know a little about you i think you should be the one to know that ever since these flash drives came out no matter real or fake we could never really depend on them 100%. These victim stories have been going on ever since flash came out to the public. I quess its just that they have better reasons now to complain since the product is not genuine. And beleive me im not trying to be an asshole here but anyone who works with data storage especially a lot of date knows better not to use flash drives. A couple weeks ago i waas recovering an external hard drive for a insurance compnay that had crashed and i was able to recover more then 90% what was on it and you should have seen the million dollar happy face on this guy having this data back but had he have used a flash he would have been screwed totally. So dont get me wrong im not saying dont use flash drives at all no, im just saying use them for smaller things after all thats what they are designed for just like floppys and zip drives we had in the past. And people if you do have this crazy idea of using them for bigger things i quess do a little research before buying and pray that nothing is going to go wrong. Talk to you later Kitty.
KittyFireFlash
July 19, 2009
To Tony
No I do not work for any IT company that is involved with Nand technology. Sigh!
Yes, I do work in IT. I am what is called in the industry “a dinosaur”. That means I go way back. I know what a punch card is. I also know what life was like before screens, when your “terminal” as a computer spit out from paper. Others are more polite and refer to people like us as the “ancients”.
I don’t particularily care to reveal a great deal about myself for many reasons. I have the misfortune to know a little to much about our field.
Like everyone else, I got bitten from fake flash. Ha ha! It only means that anybody can become a victim and lose data. It does not matter if you only know how to use a computer to log on to the internet or are a super techie. You would be very surprised to know who was a victim of false capacity items from ditigally altered nand flash chips. Anybody can fall victim especially people who don’t think anyone would be so devious as to do this.
Trying to reconstruct data is an angonizing exercise. I do know the meaning of Data loss!.
We have a lot IT expertise in the FrankenFlash Project. In fact we are working on understanding how it is done, the reprogramming. We also have people who just drive computers too.
The challenge facing all, is to get the message out. To have people become more aware. The only way to stop this is through education and makeing the public smarter regarding this techology. The fake flash fraudsters are targeting usb controllers that have technological flaws. They exploit this. Not the sort of thing manufacturers want to advertise.
You have no idea, Tony, of the gut wrenching stories we hear from victims. What they have lost. It’s not just about money. It is the files, gone forever. It is about the memories they hoped to preserve that have been destroyed. You can’t put a $ price on it.
Unfortunately it also reveals the very dark side of humanity. It reveals just how powerless the “law” is. How big companies like eBay and PayPal dive into the mud for a few pennies of profit. Frankly I find it disgusting. I am also very concerned for brand name manufacturers. It costs a great deal of money to develop technology. Something that few consumers bother to consider. This whole fake flash business is hurting them. They don’t deserve this.
Worse yet, the global situation has hurt the manufacturering of nand flash chips. As a result many Fab’s are closing down. There is no choice really. The inventory is too high for nand flash chips. As a result the costs of these chips is not going down, it is rising!
Meanwhile John and Susie Q public do not have a clue. Fraudsters in the orient are exploiting the situation. The project is seeing a dramatic increase in flash capacity sales on eBay as people search for unrealistic bargains due to the global economy resession. We are struggling trying to keep up with the number of victims. Don’t forget Tony, we are volenteers. We receive Zip for pay.
We have day jobs and a host of other obilgations. Most of us come from an Era that knows how to fight. We know the “power of One -becomes the many”.
This issue is serious. If the Chinese government were to crack down on the issue, it would be at least two years before all the fake flash was cleaned up around the world, it is so far distributed. Think “land mines”.
Perhaps if the Esata technology wins over usb, it might end earlier. Unfortunately we think not. Too many legacy machines on the market.
When you talk to a victim Tony that’s life just doesn’t cut it.
kittyfireflash
July 18, 2009
To Tony
A seller has an obligation to inspect the product being sold. Also to research the market and the costs. You mentioned “good deal” – That Tony is the problem. There is NO GOOD DEAL for selling nand flash chip based devices. The profit margin is small for true capacity. Modest. You are not going to make 500% mark up for this technology.
The project set up a site to educate on this fakes, describe the models that are counterfeit and provide detailed information on then. FlashChipTutor’s site is doing a lot of good. Would be sellers, who have the intelligence to query and search the internet are being taken to it.
Anyone interested in selling brand name usb flash drives needs to visit http://flashdrivefacts.wordpress.com/
There is a categories section that has the known counterfeits catologued so far.
Yes ebay sellers can be victims and can be “scr*wed” too. Just how do you think the FrankenFlash Project got started in the first place? eBay members + eBay victim sellers joined together to address the issue. One of the things the project tries to do is contact sellers to warn them to test when a counterfeit is spotted. Unfortunately the problem is so big not all can be reached.
Perhaps, rather than calling us stupid, you might like to roll up your sleeves, and give a helping hand? If you see any obvious Sony fakes (see the other site) – contact those sellers and advise them to TEST! Considering that you feel sorry for them, this is a way that you can help them so they don’t get into hot water.
Now for a seller who sold them….
We ask, if you drive a car and you hit someone. What is the appropriate action? To step on the gas pedal and race away? Or should you back up the car, get out and try to help the person? A true victim seller does not run. They contact their buyers to warn them. They refund and they apologize and explain what happened. It hurts financially but that is the correct action and the risk anyone takes in being in business. Those who set up the project – did exactly that. They suffered serious financial losses and the agony of contacting buyers, refunding and so on. These sellers are the kind of people desperately needed on eBay.
As for Sony. They are aware. They have written a warning guide available on eBay. Sony has updated it several times in recent months. They even have an email address where people can write to, to report these counterfeit usb flash drives. We don’t think these drives are being assembled or packaged in large FABs in China. More likely in small operations. Furthermore these counterfeits are old, they have been around for several years and have extremely small capacity chips, not one yet has been more than 512MB so far. That indicates a deep black market in recycling small nand flash chips that nobody wants anymore. Exactly how large the inventory might be is anyones guess. The usual packaging is NOT professional. Nobody uses 500G to state capacity for genuine usb flash drives, that is the first dead give away.
Companies such as Sony and Kingston ARE trying to fight the counterfeiting issue! The problem is so big it is mind numbing. There are also issues in international law and so on. You forget the size of China. This is not a country of 14 million people. Where do you start? Where do you look? The distrubtion channels are well established. eBay is one of the important conduits for this merchandise, but it is not the only one.
Lastly, and this is for sellers. We fail to understand why a potential seller does not check the brand name’s site to see what they offer in usb flash drives. It is elementary. In trying to make money and earn a profit, does one not see what is made by a manufacturer? What the suggested list prices might be so one can determine what profit margin one would make? If a person doesn’t see the item offered, that should set off warning bells. At the very least, contact the brand name to ask where the archive is for “discontinued” models. Sony would have replied very quickly – we never made it.
It is the classic mistake Tony, that would be sellers make. Naive. To assume that profit in this area of technology is similar to selling shoes or socks. If a seller is not willing to do the homework, to research this market, they have no one else to blame but themselves. Best advice? If a seller is not prepared to do this – stay way from this selling market! You are more likely to make more money baking cookies for a local community event then you will selling true capacity nand flash based devices. Profit in this arena, comes from volume selling in the 1000’s not in 20 or 200 units! How do we know? See the flash facts site. Many honest eBay sellers gave up, the profit was too small for the volume they sold. Many closed shop after having to sell at a loss, they could not even break even. eBay members are also just as ill informed about the true costs and expect everything for next to nothing. So Tony, the project is trying to address that as well with articles and education at the sites.
Take a little more time, Tony to examine the sites, before you call us stupid. You are likely to learn we are anything but.
Tony
July 18, 2009
You guys are stupid for blaming the sellers for this it should be the people who make these that should be blamed or the pople that buy these on ebay. Im sure the ones selling this stuff on ebay probablly got screwed the same way they just dont know it they think they got a good deal on it so they are trying to make some money off it let it be. Because after all you cant make a product like this at home the packaging the software the design there have to be big factorys making this crap sony should go after them.
Dr KANADA
July 5, 2009
Hi All …
I get this usb 2.0 sony MICRO VAULT 500 GB from an official Electronics store in China, Shanghai
The Price I paid for it is 10 US Dollars
I know it is a FAKE USB, the micro technology is not able yet to make usb with more than 64GB at this time
with my best regards
Dr. KANADA
ix
May 21, 2009
i’m so sorry that i didn’t found this site before… i bought 2 500 gb !!! ( what a stupid ) from eBay…..
Stung
May 20, 2009
sucker born every day. bought a 64gb on ebay like what you are showing. idot sellers keep selling. sony should pee on ebay so they stop people sell these fakes fakes fkaes FAKES. FAKE FAKE FAKE!
F A K E S, FAKE!
kittyfireflash
May 14, 2009
To Carlo
It depends on a lot of things. You will find a lot of information on the subject at the http://sosfakeflash.wordpress.com/ site. You can look at the guides there too. See the left menu bar near the top PayPal Information.
You need to file within the 45 days auction. A lot also depends on the seller – if a new one or an old one where a lot of people have already filed claims and the negative score as well. Some get refunds almost immediately, others have to fight a lot. People who will not give up are the ones most likely to get a refund.
Also if you used your credit card instead of your bank account to finance the transaction with paypal you have additional options. You can call the credit card company to explain what has happened. They have very good protection against fraud because they wish to keep your business. Usually they will do a reversal of the transaction – cancel it. So you get your money back. The reversal removes the money from paypal so then paypal will in term quickly deduct and remove the money from the fake flash sellers account.
Have a look at the SOSFakeFlash site a lot of people have discussed the issue and there have been articles written. Also see the information on eBay and international law reported by Randy. This information is also very useful too – especailly if paypal demands you use the postal system to return fake items.
Carlo
May 14, 2009
So what does paypal do if you report that you have been sold these USB’S? Will they refund you the money?
KittyFireFlash
April 7, 2009
Hi Mohmed
First you need to find out it’s real size: read http://sosfakeflash.wordpress.com/2008/09/02/h2testw-14-gold-standard-in-detecting-usb-counterfeit-drives/
Then you need to begin the hunt for software to correct read:
http://fixfakeflash.wordpress.com/2008/12/11/about-vid-pid-repairing-counterfeit-flash-drives-steps-to-succeed/
mohmed attia
April 7, 2009
pls my flash 120 has reducded to32 gb pls how i can fix it
260341270021
Emad
March 27, 2009
I did the wrong thing!
I bought one of these and …
F+++ all of them
Lizzy
March 1, 2009
rendog47 also selling 64gb Sony micro vault – same location as lozzy_17. What a coincidence……..
Sharon
February 28, 2009
cincybluffa seems to be selling fake 64GB micro vaults on ebay right now. I am glad that I did a little research on them as well. Thank You.
Mitchell Peplow
January 21, 2009
sunnyubaid66 appears to be selling 3 fake 64GB micro vaults. Thanks you so much for the info. Was about to buy one, thought id do a google search for comparative prices and up you came, many thanks
tired altruist
January 11, 2009
Here is a response from seller lozzy_17 located in Fife, UK to a question sent by an ebayer who reported the item to ebay and also reported the communication with this seller elsewhere:
PLEASE FOR YOUR BENIFIT READ THE F*****G LISTING PROPERLY BEFORE YOU WRONGFULLY REPORT ANY BODY TO EBAY AGAIN AND FALSELY ACCUSE THEM OF ANYTHING YET AGAIN ANOTHER EBAY ARSE WHO LOOKS FOR FAULTS IN EVERYTHING THROUGH JEALOUSY.
Hmm… Sorry lozzy_17 but it seems you may be simply confirming your guilt all over the Internet!