We have been receiving an increasing number of counterfeit memory cards to recover, these cards normally are packaged and look almost exactly the same to the real ones. They are very hard to tell the difference, this guide below will give you a idea if your memory card is a counterfeit. (these guides are freely listed online). These memory cards are normally purchased of eBay from China or Hong Kong resellers, we would recommend not to buy memory cards of eBay. We recommend that you buy from Amazon or Play.com or any high street shop.

While some counterfeit memory cards do work, most do not and you will end up loosing your photos, why take the risk for saving a few pound. Counterfeit cards use fake memory chips, so if there stated as 4gb, they really only have the capacity of storing 1 or 2gb of information, after this point the memory card will fail to work. There is no warranty with them either.

If you’re still in doubt whether you have a counterfeit memory card or not, we suggest you email the manufacture of the memory card, tell them the type and serial number on the back of the card.

Example of fake 1GB Sandisk SD Card

Example of fake 2GB Sandisk CF Card

Note the faded red print on the back, and the “TM” next to “CF” at the top right side on the fake:

Note there is no serial on the bottom of the fake (serial blurred on the real one):

Note the fake box has no hologram:

Note the poor print and alignment of label:

Note the poor quality workmanship on edge, print quality and alignment of text:

Fake Sony Pro Duo 2GB

Note that the fake card has poor quality printing and does not have the same various extrusions and intrusions as the genuine card

Fake Sony Pro Duo 2GB Ultra II

Note there is no hologram sticker

Note the incorrect corporation name of ‘Sorry Corporation’

Note the incorrect serial number

The SanDisk card manual was different to the real thing as well (note that the manual on the right hand is from a Sandisk Ultra II, wheras the manual on the left is for a ‘flash memory card’):