Fake NITECORE Chargers [2016]

HALL OF SHAME

WARNING - DO NOT BUY FROM THESE SELLERS

No. Store name Sale Platform Reported by Remarks
1 白金宫殿, 笑忘书19861210 Taobao Freeme Case confirmed.
Seller has confessed in his reply and refund has been made.
2 EdisonBright Amazon Lightgecko Member jhalb has reported that his D4 from eBay is authentic though. post #30
3 afforddaily eBay sorotantaz Seller proudly admit it is imitation post #93
4 superdigitalexpert2012 eBay Dimking Fake i2 bought in 2014.
REPORT

Updates

New 2016 packaging for D4.

Digicharger D4 logo has reduced in size to make way for the new EU letter on the right.

Discovery

Received a batch of fake D4 and possible fake i4 today. It caught me off guard as this new store had positive ratings with 100% "good" feedback, and chargers were listed about $3 cheaper than usual only. I made 3 separate orders from this store last week. Fortunately, I still have time to cancel my 3rd order but 2nd order has already been shipped. More updates after I settle with these BS.

Anyone who has recently purchased an authentic Nitecore charger lately, please post your box packaging in this thread so that we could use it as a reference to counter check. Thank you.

Differences in validation code sticker.
  1. No 3D Hologram for D4.
  2. Typeface used.
  3. Orange pattern background and green floral logo.
  4. Grey coating strip for validation code.
  5. QRcode.
  6. Rounder edges for the sticker.


Character spacing is wider than original for "(RCR123)" text. Spelling mistake for the word "Worldwide".

New finding: Qrcode on the questionable i4 leads to official Nitecore i4 product page whereas authentic qrcode will lead you validation page with validation code automatically loaded into the field. Manage to validate my um20 within two attempts but i4 gave kept give security code error on all browsers.

  1. Sad to say that fake charger package is made of stronger cardboard than original.
  2. Font is bold for original. Typeface is slight different.
  3. (RCR123) label alignment is off to the left for fake.
  4. This is the most obvious mistake. The word "Worldwide" is mis-spelled with a "c" instead of "e".

  1. Yellow top sticker material is a bit translucent compared to original.
  2. Air bubble formed due to double layer of screen protectors. Screen looks grayish in color instead of black.
  3. "Deboss" depth of the battery icons is deeper for fake. Icons design is not exactly the same at closeup.

  1. From 2014 models onward are installed with NITECORE designed power socket. Design is most probably to help consumer to differentiate between fake and original. First generation of sockets are blue in color.

  1. All the metal contacts and rails will attract magnet for fake. Only the negative contacts will attract magnet for original (based on D4).
  2. Rail springs are stiffer and require slightly more strength to pull for original than fake.

  1. Mode button for original charger has a more vibrant yellow.
  2. Fin thickness is different.

  1. NITECORE word is spaced out more. Letters are easier to read.
  2. Original charger has a rugged texture pattern.

  1. Original cable is thicker, longer and heavier.Emboss NITECORE logo can be seen on the pin side.

Nitecore i4 (2014) Teardown

It looks fairly similar to HKJ (http://lygte-info.dk/review/Review%20Charger%20Nitecore%20Intellicharger%20i4%20UK.html) but without quality capacitors.

No NITECORE capacitors insight.

According to NITECORE site - IDENTIFICATION GUIDE FOR NITECORE CHARGER USERS, contact points and railings are made from non-magnetic material. However, this particular model's railings failed the magnet test. FIY, OPUS BT-C3100 does not attract magnet too.

Packaging Comparison

Reserved.....

Let’s get a group buy for fake Nitecore chargers! Since they’re fake anyway, they prolly wouldn’t mind changing the name to Nitecorn just for us! :stuck_out_tongue:

Another attack of the clone?
What a perfect charger for a fake battery to use on fake flashlight :bigsmile:

My first day in college and living away from home on my own, I made myself a cup of instant decafe coffee in a styrofoam cup with Saccharine sweetener and Creamora

What do you see if you scratch the paint layer off the ‘validation code’ on those boxes?
Do they have different numbers, or all the same number?
Have you tried the number(s) in the Nitecore check system?
I’m curious if they are faking the validation codes, and how successful they are.

One could, hypothetically, suggest it’s a defective batch of boxes sent out with real products in them.
Until you open them up and find out what’s inside the plastic.

Damn, I tried many time but I just can't get pass the security code section. Validation code on i4 is 9455 5412 0567 0168.

Real of Fake? It is still hard to tell.

Ah, the capacitors and the magnet test you reported — I missed that at first read

So they’re someone’s ripoff version using cheaper parts

Still curious to know what’s under the paint on the validation sections on each of the boxes, if you scratch some of those off.

had to use ie - did not work in chrome…

When checking the code, remember there are 3 results:

1) The code is validated. i.e. it is new and unique and the charger is from Nitecore.

2) The code has been used before, i.e. either you have checked it before or it is used on multiple chargers.

3) The code is unknown, i.e. Nitecore has never heard about this code, it is definitely fake.

I do not know the actual messages Nitecore uses for the above 3 cases, but that is the possible answers with the verification system.

Wait, there’s a difference between “Validation Code” — what you see when you scrape the paint off the label
versus “Verification Code” — what you see that they want you to repeat back to prove you’re not a bot.

In M4X’s screenshot above, it’s the latter that is not recognized. You can see what’s displayed and typed, and they don’t match.

That’s not checking the hardware yet, it’s checking what’s between keyboard and chair to verify you’re human.
Try again?

It’s already the next captcha-code.

I tried it over 10 times and I would argue that this website isn’t working properly.
[/quote]

mistyping the captcha leads to: “Security code is not correct”

(every refresh of the page leads to a new captcha)

I did test mine and had to type that code almost 15 times before it was correct. My charger was genuine.

If the validation is really incorrect, these i4 are definitely A grade counterfeits circulating at close to regular price.

Seems like you just have to type the bold letters… :expressionless:

The code is not correct, so your chargers should be faked.

You “NiteCore” in the transformed?
My I4 2014 version, the verification code does not work,In my other I2 2014 version, yes works

The two ,buy shop to eBay, below the price “normal

New finding: Qrcode on the questionable i4 leads to official Nitecore i4 product page whereas authentic qrcode will lead you validation page with validation code automatically loaded into the field. Manage to validate my um20 within two attempts but i4 gave kept give security code error on all browsers.

Just got a new D2 Charger in the mail yesterday… Made me nervous.!

Box checked legit and I just confirmed the verification code. Thankfully genuine Nitecore D2 from Amazon vendor. :slight_smile:

Maybe post a store info so we could all avoid it!