Buyers beware, fake Samsung 990 Pro SSDs are afoot in Europe but they're easier to spot than you think

That's right, while the escalating prices of the best SSDs for gaming were already upsetting, there are now fake drives you need to be wary of - at least, if you're based in Europe, that is.

According to the website Computer Base, one of its readers named etoo received not one but two counterfeit Samsung 990 Pro SSDs from a retailer based in Austria. While the packaging looked like the real deal from the images Computer Base provided, opening the box revealed a drive with a blue PCB. The 990 Pro has a black PCB, so that was a bit of a giveaway that something was quite right, and it only got worse from there.

Once etoo looked further into the drive via CrystalDiskInfo, a similar benchmarking tool that I use to test SSDs, its true counterfeit ways became apparent. ComputerBase continued to explain that the drive showed it had an extra 1099.5 GB on top of the existing 1TB. Typically, when you pop a legitimate SSD into any benchmarking tool, it will show that you have slightly less of its on-the-box capacity, not more.

If it wasn't damning enough, Samsung Magician, a software designed to help manage and maintain Samsung SSDs, marked it as "Non-Samsung" and etoo wasn't even able to test its read and write speeds as the drive was unable to be formatted. The Computer Base reader shared that they had got in contact with the supplier (which has remained nameless) and were told that " the matter was being investigated," but if you're worried about receiving a fake, there are a few things you can do.

Firstly, make sure you're only buying from trusted retailers. That won't completely protect you from issues, as a wide variety of sellers can list their wares on the likes of Amazon and Walmart. However, if you are buying from Amazon, make sure you're buying directly from the brand's own stores. To be even safer, I recommend buying directly from a brand's online store. You won't get the best deal, but you will get an extra piece of mind. It's up to you which is more important.

Secondly, before you load up your SSD with your favorite games and other precious files, benchmark it first. Tools like Samsung Magician, which etoo used, will let you know if anything is up. Other brands have their own official accompanying software, which you can use to manage your drive and check if anything is fishy.

Lastly, in the case of the Samsung 990 Pro, be sure to check official marketing images of what your SSD should look like and compare it to your own. If yours has a blue PCB and it's not meant to, then obviously something is a little wrong.

Remember, while this happened in Europe, the US is not immune to counterfeit SSDs and tech. As the RAM Storage Crisis continues to shake up the best SSD prices, there's a chance more fakes could be afoot to make up for demand. Or, those behind these fakes could take advantage of those desperate to upgrade their PC gaming rigs or PS5 consoles.

If you're on the hunt for storage, please be safe out there. If you have any worries or concerns, you can always give me or the rest of the GamesRadar+ hardware team a nudge for help, too. However, buying from trusted retailers and even straight from the source is always your best bet.

• View all SSDs for gaming at Samsung

I've also rounded up the best Nintendo Switch microSD Express Cards, the best Xbox Series X hard drives, and the best external hard drives for gaming if you're on the hunt for some extra storage.