Site Logo

Warning as fake USB sticks hit the market

Warning as fake USB sticks hit the market

Scammers are trying to take advantage of the latest wave of large-capacity USB memory sticks by selling fake devices with much lower memory than advertised.

One of the UK's largest suppliers of customised USB flash memory sticks has spotted the latest con as devices with a monster 64GB of memory hit the consumer market.

According to the UK-based USBTrader.com, unscrupulous dealers are using a relatively simple "hack" to make smaller capacity devices appear to be higher value 64GB sticks, then selling them at seemingly bargain prices to online customers.

"This kind of con is nothing new," says Alan Dhillon, Customer Service Manager from USBTrader.com, "Somebody always tries to take advantage of customers whenever a new technology arrives on the market, and the introduction of a new generation of massive capacity flash sticks has brought them out again.

"What is new is the relative ease that the scam can be achieved. With the huge capacity of these devices, it could be weeks or even months before the victim knows they've been duped. By then, the criminal is long gone."

The scammers buy cheap, lower memory USB sticks and hack the device so when it is viewed on a computer, it appears to have a higher memory and sell it at a bargain price through internet shops and eBay. The victim only realises they have been scammed when the device is filled to its (much lower) capacity.

 

More News
1 month ago
How to build trust in the workplace
Business specialists at TelephoneSystems.Cloud have named five ways to build a trusting relationship among employees and senior staff members.
1 month ago
Telehouse powers up Transatel’s connected car services with partnership
Telehouse has partnered with global cellular connectivity solutions provider, Transatel (a subsidiary of NTT DATA) to strengthen the digital infrastructure for Transatel’s expanding connected car business.
1 month ago
New checklist to help small businesses avoid cyber-attacks
Compliance experts, Skillcast is warning small businesses of significant fines and risks that would be devastating if they don’t protect themselves from cyber-attacks.
1 month ago
Sophos expands with new Partner Care offering
Sophos, experts in innovating and delivering cybersecurity as a service, is expanding its commitment to the channel with the addition of Partner Care, a new offering in its partner program that features a team of Sophos experts who handle non-sales related questions and operational support.
1 month ago
SailPoint launches MSP programme for Identity Security Cloud
SailPoint Technologies, experts in unified identity security for enterprises, has launched a Managed Service Provider (MSP) offering that gives select partners the ability to deliver and manage SailPoint Identity Security Cloud for customers around the world.
1 month ago
Guardpack invest in market expansion with new appointment
Wet wipe and sachet manufacturer, Guardpack, has appointed James Tucker as General Manager. James will be responsible for leading market expansion and new R&D initiatives.
1 month ago
TD SYNNEX extends OpenMPS support to Epson Workforce A3 series
TD SYNNEX has integrated the Epson Workforce Enterprise series of A3 copiers and printers into its OpenMPS-managed print service.
1 month ago
Over 2/3 IT security decision-makers to increase cybersecurity budgets
Infosecurity Europe has announced findings from research into the cybersecurity budgets of organisations, with 69 per cent of surveyed IT decision-makers citing that they have seen, or will see, their cybersecurity budgets increase between 10-100 per cent in 2024.
1 month ago
Evolve IP welcomes new reseller partner
Unified communications service provider, Evolve IP, has added a new name to its reseller recruitment drive.
1 month ago
Vectra AI and Gigamon announce new OEM partnership
Vectra AI, experts in hybrid attack detection, investigation, and response, and Gigamon, a deep observability company, have announced a new OEM partnership to deliver intelligent extended detection and response (XDR) across hybrid cloud environments.

Login / Sign up

xxx