eBay sellers continue to sell fake DT310 Kingston DataTraveler usb flash drives and 1958vardy is no exception. The source for most eBay sellers? Disreputable Chinese internet wholesaling sites. No other usb be flash drive fake is so widely sold on eBay. You will find new listings daily, many attempt to hide by NOT mentioning DT310 in their title. Frequently they will purposely not list in flash memory categories. You will find the listing in almost every eBay country!
The DT310 continues to retail at reputable internet sites, for example, newegg.com at $749 US. It is impossible to sell a DT310/256GB for less then $100 dollars yet consumers continue to fall for the scam. To distinguish itself from many fraudulent internet sites, Newegg makes sure to specify “Genuine” in the title listing.
Kingston DataTraveler 310 256GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive Model DT310/256GB
Genuine USB drive from Kingston USA
At $749 each, their Genuine DT310 usb flash drives are frequently sold out. Informed consumers are willing to pay the realistic price for this DataTraveler memory stick.
Unfortunately the uninformed, remain the majority and despite efforts of the FrankenFlash Project to educate the internet public on true prices for the DT310, people continue to fall prey to low prices and counterfeit DT310 flash drives.
These fakes are not just “counterfeits”, they are dangerous low capacity usb flash drives manipulated to lie about their true size. Upgraded flash memory leading to data loss.
Repairing usb flash drives, restoring them to their real capacity remains a challenge, often costly in time and effort. Using sub standard flash memory chips, mostly
Grade “C” or “D”
flash memory chips, DT310 fakes are difficult and almost impossible to restore to genuine capacity. DT310 counterfeits often lock up and become write protected. A mystery, FixFakeFlash and InspectorTech, have as yet to solve.
Not too long ago, SOSFakeFlash revealed just how cheap you can buy a fake DT310 from a Chinese wholesaler on DHGATE:
eBay sellers continue to make the mistake of buying from them and in doing so unleash misery on their buyers. The story of United Kingdom 1958vardy eBay is a good example.
1958vardy seller, first started listing DT310 flash drives for sale using this listing description with an interesting twist:
These USB memory stick/pens come security sealed in the manufacturers package.
The drives are formatted using a fat 32 partition which is standard for large drives.
New USB 2.0 256GB Flash Memory Pen Stick Thumb Drive
Strangely this UK seller chose to mention something unusual in his listings:
Item Description:
Support USB version 2.0 and 1.0
Capacity: Flash Memory
Hot Plug and Play – No external power is required
Ultra high speed Read & Write feature: maximum read to 20 mbps, maximum write to 14 mbps (USB version 2.0)
Supports power saving mode to reduce power consumption
Supports Windows ME, 2000 and XP & Vista without device driver
Supports Driver for Windows 98/98 SE (High speed mode not supported with these OS)
Driverless support for Linux Kernel version 2.4 or later version
Driverless support for Mac OS 9.X or above
when you plug them in they show 256gb of drive space.
I cannot confirm this size.More Than 10 Years Data Retention
“when you plug them in they show 256gb of drive space. I cannot confirm this size.”
Odd as the seller said:
“These USB memory stick/pens come security sealed in the manufacturers package.”
If they were “security sealed” in the manufacturers package why would 1958vardy bother to mention he was unable to confirm flash memory capacity? Would he not trust in the Kingston Technologies brand name, packaging, and serial number information available for authentication. Serial number information is available on every Kingston flash memory package these days. It is now engraved on every usb connector tip.
Did this seller make an honest mistake in offering this DT310 DataTraveler on eBay?
At first he listed offering returns.
Suddenly listings of 1958vardy changed. He stopped selling DT310 usb flash drives as individual items. Instead he offered them in lots of 5 units for less then $130 pounds. Buy now or best offer? Why would a western eBay seller suddenly begin to offer DT310’s at such amazing low prices and no longer accept returns?
According to SOSFakeFlash, this is known as the “Dump and Run” behavior of a seller who has discovered his inventory is for fake usb flash drives. It is also a behavior that destroys confidence in eBay. How can you have confidence in eBay when a seller is determined to make up for his losses, regardless of the pending tragedy to eBay buyers?
According to KittyFireFlash at SOSFakeFlash, this is not unusual behavior for eBay sellers. When they realize they have been frauded by a Chinese wholesaling site, they see themselves as victims and as many feel justified in reclaiming their capital, anyway they can. It may be irresponsible and immature but they feel that as they have been frauded, they have the right to fraud back. The logic escapes TechReporters at FakeFlashNews. Do you understand it?
Consumers need to be careful and read all the fine print for flash memory listings. If a seller refuses to stand behind the advertised capacity they are selling, there is something wrong. Any honest and reputable seller will have no issue standing behind the advertised capacity – they will have confidence in the item they are selling. If they don’t, it should be a clear message to stay away from what they advertise.
An eBay seller offering genuine Kingston DT310 usb flash drives for sale does not have a problem standing behind his product. Obviously it will not be listed for less than $700 US, it can’t be if the seller hopes to make a profit.
Will people continue to suffer the purchase of data losing DT3100 usb flash drives?
YES, if they don’t get the message about the real costs for 256GB usb flash drives.
Never make the mistake of confusing usb external hard disk drives with flash memory. The technology is different. Hard disks are old technology and cheap to produce, flash memory is not.
Western eBay sellers such as 1958vardy come and go on eBay. There is always another western eBay seller dreaming of hugh profit in selling flash memory on eBay waiting to take the place of those suspended. According to both SOSFakeFlash and FakeMemorySentinel it is a never ending parade. eBay does little, only erase listings to prevent eBay members from discovering the truth on their suspended sellers.
If you discover you bought a fake, you need to take action! Until more people do, the problem will continue. More people will be frauded. FakeFlashNews asks:
- “How did you like your discovery of purchasing a DT310 fake?”
- “Do you wish you learned the truth before you bought one?”
If your experience was unpleasant, take the time to warn others. Use your web space, visit forums. Facebook this article to alert people you know. The greater the internet exposure on the problem of DT310 fakes, the sooner fraudulent sellers will be unable to list and sell them.
If you bought a DT310 at a cheap price – less then $700 US you need to read these articles:
See this video by By OutlawedMedia on DT310 Kingston DataTraveler Fakes.
Exposing Fake/Counterfeit USB Drive!
See what a fake counterfeit DT310 usb flash drive looks like for yourself. OutlawedMedia opens it up for you to see what is really inside!
Kingston read:
Kingston Technologies Offers Help To eBay Victims Frauded With Counterfeit Flash Memory
Kingston DataTraveler 310 DT310/256GB Fake USB Flash Drives Flooding eBay! Fraud Warning.
Kingston DT310/256 Counterfeits Sold On eBay!
eBay Help:
Reporting Fake Flash Memory:
Flash Memory Testing – Flash Chip Capacity:
H2testw 1.4 – Gold Standard In Detecting USB Counterfeit Drives
Interesting Stories On Flash Memory Fraud:
3ToTrade – Communication with The Don Of Fake Flash – HarryEvidence
Dt200 Fakes Or China Gowns eBay Ring Selling Fake 128GB USB Flash Drives By FakeMemorySentinel
An eBay Buyer’s Personal Story On Buying A Fake Counterfeit MP Player On eBay, LukeDoctorFlash
Fake 8GB 16GB 32GB USB Flash Pendrives Drives On eBay YouTube Videos – A Buyer And A Seller Speak
6 Continents eBay Fake MP Players – USB Pen Drives – Memory Cards – SOSFakeFlash
Ebay Fake Flash Sellers Alert India – A Mystery In New Delhi
darnubiz Ebay Fake Flash Seller Alert USA – Mystery Of a Kingston DataTraveler USB Flash Drive
Fake Flash News - Internet & eBay Fraud 
Hazel Stilgoe-McCombe
January 9, 2012
Adzred1970 is also a seller of fake drives which I bought not knowing of the scam that is going on for my son for christmas paypal nor ebay are interested as it is beyond the 30 days so buyer beware this data traveller doesnt even work so it has no capacity yet was advertised as new and 256. As i didnt know the full asking price I did not realise that the price i was paying was too cheap