Counterfeit DDR5 RAM is being offered on online marketplaces and gray-market sellers, with some fake modules appearing authentic until they are physically examined. As reported by Digital Trends, the chips on these bogus sticks are actually fiberglass boards designed to resemble real DRAM. A user from Japan shared an experience of purchasing what was claimed to be an SK Hynix SO-DIMM laptop module, which upon review, contained non-working fiberglass instead of actual memory chips. These fakes are listed on auction platforms like Yahoo Japan as “untested” or “junk,” with no option for returns. The issue is exacerbated with desktop DDR5 kits, where heatspreaders conceal the chips, leaving buyers oblivious until systems malfunction. The prices of DDR5 have surged due to demand linked to AI, resulting in a global memory crisis. Manufacturers focus on enterprise production, leaving consumers with a reduced supply. Framework has raised DDR5 prices considerably, and Samsung has cautioned of additional increases, with major laptop manufacturers like Lenovo, Dell, and HP also expecting price hikes.