Consumer Alert: Fake 20TB HDD Scam Unveiled

Many tech-savvy individuals often find themselves as the go-to IT support for family and friends. Typically, issues can be solved with simple fixes, but this wasn't the case for one unfortunate shopper. A recent scam unfolded when a father purchased a so-called 20TB portable hard drive for approximately $51, only to discover it was mainly a plastic box filled with weights and a printed circuit board (PCB).

The story, shared by a Reddit user referred to as Martin, highlights how his father acquired the device at around £38. While hard drives have become cheaper, such a low price raises suspicions. Typically, a 20TB external HDD costs over $200, making Martin's father’s purchase price a substantial red flag.

Upon further inspection with a hammer, it was unveiled that the device’s chassis was almost empty, except for some iron wheel weights and a small PCB with limited flash storage capacity, insufficient for genuine 20TB storage.

This serves as a potent reminder about fraudulent storage devices circulating online, often programmed to display large capacities on Windows. This deceptive tactic could confuse users less familiar with storage technology nuances.

Martin shared that his father purchased the fake HDD from a website known as UK.Chicntech, which appears to sell primarily household items. Despite providing evidence of the scam, including images of the device's internals, refund efforts were unsuccessful with Chicntech offering merely a 30% refund and a 'free gift.'

This incident is a cautionary tale, emphasizing the need for consumers to purchase from trusted retailers. It’s crucial to be aware of pricing norms to avoid being duped by too-good-to-be-true deals.