Amazon Sends DDR4 RAM Inside DDR5 Packaging to a Buyer as Another RAM Scam Report Spreads on Reddit
Reports of DDR5 related scams are starting to stack up, and the latest one is another reminder that even mainstream retailers can become a distribution channel for swapped or tampered PC parts. As DDR5 remains expensive and, in some regions, harder to buy at stable pricing, scams involving mislabeled kits and box swaps are appearing more frequently, especially through return chains and repack flows.
In a new post on the pcmasterrace subreddit, Reddit user Hen0891 says they ordered a Corsair DDR5 2x16GB kit from Amazon for a second PC, but what arrived inside the box was not DDR5 at all. Instead, the package reportedly contained 2x16GB Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4 modules. Unlike other recent cases where scammers allegedly hid older sticks under a DDR5 heatsink shell, this incident looks even more blunt, as the user suggests someone did not even attempt to disguise the modules to match the DDR5 product they purchased.
While the exact point of tampering is unclear, the post notes that hardware swaps can occur even when a box appears sealed, which is why these scams are so difficult to detect until installation time. For DDR5 specifically, the mismatch can become obvious quickly, because DDR4 physically will not seat correctly in a DDR5 slot due to the notch position and slot keying.
The larger concern is the pattern. These are not isolated one off stories anymore. Replacing parts inside a box is a low effort, high payout scam when component prices rise. Even when Amazon refunds or replaces the order, buyers can still lose time, build momentum, and in some cases the opportunity to buy at the original price if listings rise between purchase and replacement.
The same Reddit thread also includes a comment from another user describing a separate Amazon order problem: they reportedly ordered RAM and received a single hair elastic instead. They said recording the unboxing helped them secure a refund. While that is an extreme example, it reinforces the practical point for builders: documentation matters when disputes involve high value items and questionable fulfillment outcomes.
For anyone buying high priced PC parts right now, especially RAM kits, this is another case that supports a simple best practice playbook: treat unboxing like verification, not like a formality.
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Record the unboxing for any high value component order
Check the label on the module itself, not just the outer box
Confirm DDR generation before installation by looking at the notch position
If anything looks off, stop the build and start the return process immediately
Avoid mixing last minute purchases into a build day schedule if possible
Do you still feel comfortable buying expensive PC parts like RAM from Amazon, or are you shifting to local retailers and dedicated PC hardware stores for peace of mind?
