New findings in the ongoing Seagate hard drive fraud investigation have uncovered that the scam extends beyond the initially reported Exos server drives to include IronWolf and IronWolf Pro NAS models.
Researchers at Lutz Labs, who first exposed the fraud earlier this month, received numerous reports indicating that cryptocurrency miners from China are manipulating usage metrics on these additional drive models to pass them off as new products.
The deceptive practices include erasing SMART usage logs, applying counterfeit production date stickers, altering serial numbers, and repackaging used drives as new. The scammers even manage to show warranty coverage extending to 2029.
The investigation team has outlined several methods for buyers to identify fraudulent drives:
- Check for physical wear signs like dents and scratches
- Inspect SATA connectors for usage marks
- Verify production date sticker placement
- Review warranty details for suspicious exact 5-year terms
- Use monitoring tools like Smartmontools or SeaTools to check drive usage history
Some examined drives showed usage between 15,000 and 50,000 hours, despite being sold as new. The researchers also investigated potential fraud involving Toshiba and Western Digital drives but found different results - Toshiba confirmed using only SMART logs, while Western Digital has not commented on the matter.
Seagate maintains its position of not replacing these fraudulent drives since they were not distributed through official channels. However, the company continues investigating and requests affected customers to contact fraud@seagate.com with details.
The expanding scope of this fraud scheme highlights growing concerns about the authenticity of storage devices in the market, particularly those sourced through unofficial distribution channels.