Beware when buying microSD cards online. In recent years, Amazon has had issues with third-party sellers hawking
counterfeit memory cards.
To avoid getting scammed, buy directly from a reputable seller like Best Buy or Adorama. This is an instance in which buying in person from a big-box store is a good idea; you’ll almost always pay more, but you’re more likely to get the genuine article. Another way to avoid fakes is to search for “
Where to buy” links from the
card manufacturers to find authorized retailers. If you are considering options on Amazon, look for “Ships from and sold by Amazon.com,” and be sure to select the original packaging if that’s an option (not Amazon’s “Frustration-free” packaging, for example).
Some
Amazon customers have reported receiving fake cards directly from Amazon. If you suspect your card is a fake, contact Amazon customer support for an exchange. (You can look for
strange packaging and
test the card with CrystalDiskMark or another
disk transfer test to check its speeds. Other downloadable tools can be used to make sure you receive the capacity you paid for.)
