- A Reddit user bought what they thought was computer RAM from Amazon
- Instead, Amazon sent them a lightweight kit inside a RAM box
- The Redditor filmed himself opening the box to aid in their return
High prices spurred by the current RAM crisis make 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 bargain when you see one. But a cautionary tale from social media shows why some deals may not be all they seem.
This warning comes from a Reddit post by user BupMaster titled “Decided to buy RAM from Amazon against my better judgment and it happened to me…” The foreboding headline hinted at the potentially disastrous situation to come.
The poster explained how they decided to buy RAM from Amazon for a setup upgrade, despite hearing stories of return scams. These typically involve a fraudster purchasing an expensive product and then returning 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. “Look, I open the package and see someone swapped the sticks for light enhancement kits instead. Also sold and shipped by Amazon. Hopefully they won’t give me too much trouble on the return.”
This example highlights how careful you need to be when buying memory – or other in-demand computer components like storage – in this very unusual era. With RAM in record low supply thanks to the demands of artificial intelligence (AI) data centers, fraudsters are sniffing out opportunities wherever they can. Unfortunately for this Redditor, they ended up falling victim.
Keep your wits about you
Decided to buy RAM from Amazon against my better judgment and it happened to me…
from r/pcmasterrace
Interestingly, Corsair – the company whose RAM BupMaster bought – changed its packaging earlier this year specifically to discourage fraudsters. Instead of cardboard boxes, the company now sells its memory modules in clear plastic blister packs. However, the device the Redditor received was in a cardboard container, suggesting the scammer wanted to hide their actions.
Another interesting point about this account is that the scam was not perpetuated by some dodgy website or even a rogue seller on Amazon. The RAM kit was sold directly by Amazon itself, which suggests that someone at the company swapped out the memory modules for the dud product.
Unfortunately, this Redditor is far from the only person who has suffered this way. In the same thread, another user claimed the same thing happened to a laptop. And we’ve reported countless similar cases, suggesting that scams like this are an all too common occurrence.
This case also shows how important it can be to record yourself when opening a package if you are at all unsure or wary of it. It gave them the perfect proof to prove to Amazon that they had been scammed, making the return process much easier.
Amazon is known to be very willing to accept returns, but it’s better to be safe than sorry – especially when buying rare and expensive products like computer memory.
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