- A user ordered a DDR5 RAM kit on Amazon but got a disguised DDR4 stick.
- The notches on the RAM didn’t match the motherboard, which raised suspicion.
- These antics could become more common as RAM prices surge due to shortage.
It is no secret that memory prices are going out of hand due to the recent AI boom. DDR5 RAM, especially, is being sold for over 150% the price of its MSRP. And in desperate times, come desperate measures, which lead to scams.
GPU and CPU scams are quite recurring in the industry, but the latest culprit of this fraud is RAM sticks. A user has reported that they ordered a kit of 2 DDR5 RAM sticks from Amazon, but instead got DDR4 disguised as DDR5.
Why it matters: The inflated prices are leading to scams even in RAM sales, which was previously unheard of. What’s interesting is that the purchase was directly from Amazon and not a third-party seller.

Reddit User Leading-Growth-8361 posted to r/pcmasterrace to alert users about the latest scam. His ordered Corsair Vengeance DDR5 RAM kit was, in fact, a DDR4 kit, disguised with fake heatsinks to say otherwise.
When they got the kit, the heatsinks were a bit loose as if taken out by someone, but they ignored that and proceeded with the build. However, when the user tried to put the RAM on the motherboard the notches didn’t align.

On the DDR5 kits, the cutouts are towards the middle, whereas on DDR4, it’s a bit different. When the user removed the heatsink, they discovered that it was an unknown stick and not the Corsair one that was ordered.
What’s more worrying is that the order came directly from Amazon, and not a third-party seller, which rings alarm bells for users, as even official sources aren’t trustworthy anymore. Anyhow, this is the current reality, and we must be careful.
What are your thoughts on buyers getting scammed on Amazon while buying DDR5 RAM? Let us know your opinions in the comments or join the discussion at the official Tech4Gamers Forum.
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News Reporter
Abdullah is an avid gamer who primarily plays single-player titles. If you can’t find him anywhere, he’ll probably be at his desk playing The Witcher 3 for the millionth time. When he isn’t playing games, he’s either reading or writing about them.
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