Industry analysts believe that the global chip shortage is creating the perfect environment for counterfeit semiconductors to enter the market, reports Zdnet.
“The current times are opening up a golden opportunity for electronic component counterfeiters and fraudsters to step in, writes Zdnet, adding, “It is only a question of time before the market is flooded with semiconductors that just about pass for authentic, but in reality, are illegal products that could pose huge safety risks.”
“Studies (in Japan) have shown since then that, as lead times extended for the component, manufacturers came under pressure to source parts quickly and started purchasing from third-party distributors. Before long, counterfeit products had made their way into the supply chain.”
Zdnet says “the risks of using counterfeit chips, even unknowingly, should not be underestimated”. They report that fraudsters typically use one of two methods to create fake products: cloning or recycling. “In both cases, the final product might meet basic quality standards, but it will not have gone through any of the testing processes or reliability criteria that authentic chip manufacturers invest time and money into.”
Astute is a highly accredited, quality-driven procurement expert, with a list of clients that includes the world’s leading defence suppliers. Our mission is to shield you against inferior quality products and services. As such, our operations are run in accordance with quality processes including AS6081 that mitigates the risks of purchasing and supplying fraudulent/counterfeit electronic parts. Find out more about our counterfeit mitigation techniques by contacting one of our experts.
We have on-site anti-counterfeit testing facilities in both the U.K. and U.S. for carrying out a range of destructive and non-destructive testing, as shown here:
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