Counterfeit samsung 990 pro ssd units surface in europe

At a glance:

• Two 1 TB samsung 990 pro ssd boxes arrived in austria, one of which was a non‑functioning counterfeit
• The fake drive cannot be formatted and mimics the genuine packaging down to the seal and model markings
• The incident follows a similar japan‑based counterfeit case and highlights supply‑chain strain on memory components

What happened

A customer identified only as “etoo” placed an order for two 1 TB samsung 990 pro solid‑state drives through an Austrian retailer. The shipment arrived within a few days, and the outer packaging was indistinguishable from an authentic samsung box – complete with the official seal, logo placement, and model information. However, once the buyer attempted to initialize the drive, at least one of the units failed to be recognized by the operating system and could not be formatted, confirming it as a counterfeit.

The story was first reported by german tech outlet computerbase, which has been tracking counterfeit hardware incidents across the continent. ComputerBase noted that the packaging quality was “deceptively real,” making it difficult for even seasoned technicians to spot the fraud at a glance. The counterfeit drive’s firmware does not match samsung’s genuine firmware signatures, leading to the immediate failure during the formatting process.

How the fakes differ

While the exterior of the fake 990 pro mirrors the genuine product, several tell‑tale signs emerge upon closer inspection. The counterfeit lacks the proper NAND flash chip markings that samsung typically stamps on the PCB, and the internal controller chip bears a different part number. Additionally, the drive’s serial number format does not align with samsung’s standard alphanumeric scheme, which usually includes a region‑specific prefix.

Performance testing of a previously reported japanese counterfeit showed surprisingly high benchmark scores, but those results were likely the product of a different fake generation that still used functional components. The current european counterfeit, by contrast, appears to be a shell‑only copy – the PCB is populated with generic, non‑compatible flash chips, rendering the drive unusable from the moment it is powered on.

Impact on consumers

For end‑users, the financial loss is immediate: a 1 TB samsung 990 pro retails for roughly €150‑€180 in the EU market, and the counterfeit offers no resale value. Moreover, the incident erodes trust in local e‑commerce channels, especially as component shortages drive buyers toward lesser‑known retailers. Consumers who rely on high‑performance storage for gaming, content creation, or professional workloads may experience data loss or downtime if they inadvertently install a fake drive.

The episode also underscores the importance of verifying purchase sources. Samsung’s official website lists authorized distributors for each region, and buyers are encouraged to cross‑check serial numbers via Samsung’s online warranty portal. Retailers that cannot provide proof of authenticity may face legal repercussions under EU consumer protection laws.

Broader supply‑chain context

The counterfeit surge coincides with a prolonged global shortage of memory chips and NAND flash, a situation exacerbated by geopolitical tensions and pandemic‑related factory shutdowns. As legitimate inventory dwindles, black‑market actors seize the opportunity to flood the market with low‑cost imitations. This mirrors earlier reports from japan, where a counterfeit 990 pro was benchmarked and performed well, suggesting that earlier fake batches used salvaged genuine components.

Industry analysts warn that unless supply‑chain bottlenecks ease, counterfeit incidents are likely to rise across other high‑margin components such as graphics cards and CPUs. Regulatory bodies in the EU are reportedly increasing inspections at customs points, but the sheer volume of small parcels makes comprehensive screening a challenge.

What to watch next

Samsung has not yet issued an official statement regarding the specific Austrian case, but the company routinely publishes alerts about counterfeit products on its global security page. Consumers should monitor Samsung’s announcements and stay alert for similar reports from other regions. In the meantime, tech publications like tom’s hardware and computerbase will continue to investigate and publish forensic analyses of any newly discovered fake units.