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| More and more Samsung 990 Pro SSDs are turning out to be fakes. |
A wave of cleverly faked Samsung 990 Pro SSDs has now reached Germany, and the latest batch isn’t just a cheap substitute – some of these drives are completely dead on arrival.
Just weeks after we reported on counterfeit Samsung 990 Pro drives surfacing in Japan, a similar – and arguably more brazen – scam has been uncovered in Europe. An Austrian online retailer sold two fake drives to a long-time member of the ComputerBase community, and the findings are alarming. While the Japanese counterfeits at least functioned (albeit with inferior components), the German discovery reveals a completely non‑functional SSD that could ruin your data or simply fail to work at all.
A Fake That Looks Real – Until You Plug It In
At first glance, the packaging is disturbingly convincing. The box mimics Samsung’s sleek design, but a side‑by‑side comparison with a genuine 990 Pro reveals telltale signs: poorer print quality, misplaced CE markings on the back, and subtle font differences. The real trouble starts once you open the box.
Genuine Samsung 990 Pro SSDs use a signature black printed circuit board (PCB). The counterfeit? A cheap blue board that Samsung has never used for this model. The sticker on top has been carefully copied from the original, but underneath the deception is obvious.
When the fake drive is inserted into an M.2 slot or an external enclosure, software like CrystalDiskInfo does detect *a* drive – but the reported memory capacity and firmware ID don’t match any genuine Samsung 990 Pro. The free, official Samsung Magician tool immediately flags the drive as “non‑Samsung”. That’s your first and most reliable red flag.
Pro tip: If you own a Samsung 990 Pro (or plan to buy one), run Samsung Magician right after installation. It takes seconds and can save you from data loss or a worthless piece of plastic.
From Japan to Germany – A Growing Counterfeit Network
The Japanese incident involved functional but cheap SSDs repackaged in convincing 990 Pro boxes and sold at the full retail price of $319 (1 TB on Amazon). Those fakes at least stored data, but they used slower, lower‑end NAND chips and controllers, betraying any performance benchmark.
The German case is even more malicious. The drive is essentially a brick – it might be detected by your system, but it won’t store files reliably (if at all). Imagine spending premium money on what you think is a top‑tier PCIe 4.0 drive, only to lose your project files or operating system within days.
The Austrian retailer has since promised to investigate its wholesaler, but how this counterfeit passed through supply chains unnoticed remains a mystery. It’s a stark reminder that even reputable local shops can unknowingly sell fakes when upstream distributors are compromised.
How to Spot a Fake Samsung 990 Pro
Whether you bought from Amazon, Newegg, or a local retailer, here’s a quick checklist:
Examine the packaging – Blurry text, off‑center logos, or missing regulatory marks (like CE) are bad signs.
Check the PCB color – Genuine 990 Pro = black. Blue or green = fake.
Use Samsung Magician – It will instantly verify authenticity. No excuses.
Verify serial numbers – Enter the drive’s serial on Samsung’s warranty portal. If it doesn’t register, it’s fake.
Test performance – A real 990 Pro hits 7,450 MB/s reads. A fake will be far slower or fail benchmarks.
For deeper technical analysis, you can read the original ComputerBase report that broke this story in Europe:
👉 ComputerBase: Gefälschte Samsung 990 Pro SSDs auch in Europa im Umlauf
What to Do If You Suspect a Fake
First, stop using the drive immediately. Counterfeit SSDs can corrupt data, overheat, or even short out your motherboard in extreme cases. Then:
Contact the seller – Demand a refund. If they resist, escalate to your payment provider.
Report to Samsung – Use their official anti‑counterfeit portal.
Leave a review – Warn other buyers on the marketplace where you purchased.
And if you’re in the market for a genuine Samsung 990 Pro, stick to trusted sellers. The real deal currently goes for around $319 on Amazon (price varies by capacity). For peace of mind, you can check the latest pricing and verified seller ratings here:
🔗 Samsung 990 Pro 1 TB on Amazon (genuine listing reference)
Final Word: Don’t Let a Bargain Brick Your Build
Counterfeiters are getting scarily good at mimicking packaging and labels. The blue‑PCB fake in Germany proves that even experienced builders can be fooled until they open the box. Always verify new storage with Samsung Magician, buy from authorized dealers, and be extra cautious with third‑party marketplace listings.
Your data is worth more than the $50 you might save on a shady deal. Stay sharp, run the checks, and spread the word – because the next fake could be sitting on a shelf near you.
Sources: ComputerBase, earlier reporting on Japanese counterfeit SSDs.