Spotting fake Lenovo adapters and batteries

[LightningCrash]

For a little while now there have been counterfeit Lenovo adapters on the market, even on Amazon.
I decided that maybe I would put together some information on spotting fakes, to help.
If you can think of anything just ask for it to be included.

1. Listing
   1. Title
      You can not trust the title of a listing. The title of the listing will only tell you what it's not, if they volunteer that it's a 3rd party product. Look out for words like "compatible".
   2. Body
      The body can be misleading as there are sellers submitting fakes under genuine entries on Amazon. You could order 10 different times and only get a counterfeit when you hit a certain seller. Word such as "compatible" with are dead giveaways.
      Also, if they go to lengths to illustrate the FRUs and P/Ns that an item is compatible with, it's almost definitely a fake. Real items will list exactly what the product is "This is FRU 42T4230." while fake items will list "This is compatible with 42T4230, 92P1290, 42T3409, 92P2929." The more they assert the compatible part numbers, the more likely it's a fake.
   3. Model Number
      Many of the newer fakes have Lenovo P/Ns that don't exist. Try Googling for the PN or FRU before site:lenovo.com . If all you see are forum entries, it's almost certainly a fake. Google the PN as well as the FRU number.
   4. Photos
      Look at the listing photos. On some of the fake AC adapters, there is square box in the lower left hand of the label that will have DONGGUANG LITE POWER 2nd PLANT.
      Most of the US 65w 20v 3.25A adapters are 2-prong, and will also have a Class 2 emblem on them. The emblem is a square within a square. Many fakes will be three prong or will be two prong without the Class 2 designation.
2. Packaging
   1. Labeling
      Lenovo packaging follows a pretty predictable pattern. You'll have, on the factory box, the P/N and S/N, then barcodes with the P/N, S/N, P/N+S/N, origin code, UPC, EAN.
      Many fake boxes will simply have a barcode on one end and a printed label on the same end.
      Lenovo Batteries have "CAUTION", a picture of some batteries, and notes about safe handling.
   2. Tape
      Lenovo packaging is often taped in some clear tape with red locks under the labels, or some clear tape with angled red stripes. Some of the smaller boxes, that only hinge open at one end, are taped with a white and red paper tape.
      Many fakes are not taped at all or only with small clear tape.
   3. Static Wrap
      Many Lenovo products are wrapped in static wrap with a high quality paper sticker sealing it shut.
      Many fakes are wrapped in clear plastic with scotch tape sealing it shut.
   4. Padding
      Many Lenovo products are packaged with textured foam in the bottom of the case.
      Fakes often have flat, thin foam, or none at all.
   5. Manual
      Even the Lenovo AC adapters come with a paper manual. Fakes come with nothing.
3. Item
   1. Model number on Sticker
      A dead giveaway on the fakes will be an extra model number near the P/N and FRU. An example would be PA-1650-54L next to the FRU or P/N. This indicates a fake.
   2. Sticker Quality
      Firstly, the fakes have a horrendous quality on their stickers. Shadowing, ghosting, grainy hard to read junk. There are typos and errors on the stickers.
   3. AC Adapters
      On some of the fake AC adapters, there is square box in the lower left hand of the label that will have DONGGUANG LITE POWER 2nd PLANT.
      Most of the US 65w 20v 3.25A adapters are 2-prong, and will also have a Class 2 emblem on them. The emblem is a square within a square. Many fakes will be three prong or will be two prong without the Class 2 designation.
      Some of the fakes will only say "made for lenovo"
4. Power cords
   Even if you order an AC Adapter from Lenovo, the power cord will have an FRU number on a sticker attached to the cord. The FRU will be something like 42T3094. I just made that up, but you get the idea.
   Fakes don't bother. They just include junk.
   

 

[LightningCrash]

Basically you can't buy anything on "marketplaces." So if you buy it on Amazon, eBay, NE, just assume it's a third-party adapter. I have a 4 dead fakes, they all shorted out.

Now if there's a multi-million dollar company directly selling the product, shipping directly from them, then you obviously have a really good chance of getting a legitimate product.

Lenovo started using Liteon to make some of their legitimate adapters. So PA-1650-75L is often a real adapter now.
There are no serial numbers on adapters, so there's no way to pick up an adapter and validate the SN.