- A Reddit user bought what he thought was computer RAM on Amazon
- Instead, Amazon sent them a lighting kit inside a RAM box.
- The Redditor filmed himself opening the box to help with its return.
High prices driven by the current RAM crisis are making it nearly impossible to buy a set of computer memory without breaking the bank, so it can be tempting to pull the trigger on an eye-catching deal every time you see one. But a warning coming from social media shows why certain offers might not be what they seem.
That warning comes from a Reddit post by user BupMaster titled “I decided to buy RAM from Amazon despite my better judgment and it happened to me…” That foreboding headline hinted at the potentially disastrous situation to come.
The poster explained how they decided to purchase RAM from Amazon for a configuration upgrade, despite hearing stories about return scams. This is usually a scammer who purchases an expensive product and then returns it with a cheaper, different or counterfeit item, which is then sent to an innocent buyer.
“Luckily I made sure to record my unboxing,” the Redditor explained. “Lo and behold, I open the package and see that someone swapped the bars for light upgrade kits. Sold and shipped by Amazon too. I hope they don’t put me through too much trouble with the return.”
This example highlights the care that needs to be taken when purchasing memory (or other highly in-demand computing components, such as storage) during this unusual era. With a record supply of RAM thanks to the demands of artificial intelligence (AI) data centers, scammers are sniffing out opportunities wherever they can. Unfortunately for this Redditor, they ended up being victims.
Keep your wits about you
I decided to buy RAM on Amazon despite my better judgment and it happened…
from r/pcmasterrace
Interestingly, Corsair, the company whose RAM BupMaster bought, changed its packaging earlier this year specifically to thwart scammers. Instead of cardboard boxes, the company now sells its memory modules in clear plastic blister packs. However, the unit received by the Redditor was in a cardboard container, suggesting that the scammer wanted to hide his actions.
Another intriguing point from this account is that the scam was not perpetuated by any dubious website or even a dishonest merchant on Amazon. The RAM kit was sold directly by Amazon, suggesting that someone within the company exchanged the memory modules for the defective product.
Unfortunately, this Redditor is far from the only person who has suffered this way. In the same thread, another user stated that the same thing happened to him with a laptop. And we’ve reported countless similar cases, suggesting that scams like this are very common.
This case also shows how important it can be to record yourself opening a package if you are unsure or distrustful of it. By doing so, they got the perfect evidence to prove to Amazon that they had been scammed, which made the return process much easier.
Amazon is known for being very willing to accept returns, but it’s better to be safe than sorry, especially when purchasing rare and expensive products like computer memory.
Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to receive news, reviews and opinions from our experts in your feeds.
The best DDR5 RAM for all budgets
