Why Obsolete Parts Attract Counterfeits
Counterfeiters follow profit and opportunity. Obsolete components offer both:
- High prices — scarcity drives premiums. A device that sold for $2 in production can command $50 or more in the obsolete market, making counterfeiting profitable even at small quantities.
- Limited authentication options — the original manufacturer is no longer producing the part, so there's no fresh production lot to compare against. Reference samples are older and harder to obtain.
- Motivated buyers — a customer with a line-down situation or a critical sustainment requirement will accept less scrutiny to get the part faster.
- Weak supply chain visibility — multiple intermediaries between the original stock and the end buyer, each adding opacity.
The result: the independent market for obsolete components has a higher density of counterfeit and non-conforming material than any other segment of component procurement.
Layer 1: Source Selection
The most effective counterfeit control is choosing sources that have robust counterfeit controls themselves. Before placing an order, verify:
- ISO 9001:2015 certification from an ANAB or UKAS-accredited body — confirms a documented, audited quality management system
- Active ERAI membership — verified at ERAI.com, not self-reported
- GIDEP participation — listed at gidep.org
- A counterfeit control plan aligned to AS5553 (for defense supply chain) or AS6081 (for independent distributors) — ask for a copy
A distributor who can show all four has made meaningful, verifiable commitments to counterfeit avoidance. A distributor who can show none is entirely dependent on your incoming inspection to catch problems they may be passing through.
Layer 2: Purchase Order Controls
Your purchase order is a quality document. Include these requirements explicitly:
- Certificate of Conformance with every shipment
- Lot traceability documentation — supplier, date code, quantity
- Original manufacturer packaging when available
- Humidity moisture barrier bag with desiccant and humidity indicator for moisture-sensitive devices
- Right to inspect and return within a defined window if parts fail incoming inspection
- For defense and aerospace: flow-down of DFARS 252.246-7007 counterfeit prevention requirements if applicable
Layer 3: Incoming Inspection
Incoming inspection is your last line of defense before parts enter your inventory or your line. For obsolete components from the independent market, a robust incoming inspection covers:
Visual and Documentation Review
- Part number, manufacturer, date code, and lot code match the purchase order and CoC
- Date code falls within the manufacturer's known production window
- Package markings match the manufacturer's known format for the period
- No evidence of re-marking: uniform ink density, correct font, no sanding or buffing marks
- Pin finish consistent with the specification — oxidation, tin whiskers, or unusual plating on lead-finish parts is a flag
- Packaging integrity — original reels, trays, or tubes; humidity barrier intact for MSD
Physical Inspection
- Body dimensions and tolerances consistent with the datasheet
- Lead coplanarity (for surface-mount) and lead pitch consistent
- Top marking permanency — genuine markings survive solvent wipe; ink-jet remarking often does not
- Lot homogeneity — all parts in the lot look the same, with consistent markings and finish
Layer 4: Laboratory Testing for High-Risk Lots
Visual inspection catches a significant fraction of counterfeit material but misses the most sophisticated fakes. For high-stakes applications or high-value lots, independent laboratory testing provides a higher confidence level:
- XRF (X-ray fluorescence) — analyzes material composition of the package, leads, and die attach. Can identify incorrect lead finish, wrong package material, or material inconsistent with the datasheet specification.
- X-ray imaging — non-destructive internal imaging. Reveals bond wire placement, die size, and internal construction. A die that's too small, missing bond wires, or has the wrong internal layout indicates a counterfeit or wrong device.
- Decapsulation and die verification — removes the package to expose the die directly. Die markings, foundry identifiers, and design revisions can be compared against known-good references.
- FTIR (Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy) — identifies the chemical composition of the package molding compound. Can detect wrong compound type or recycled material from scrapped boards.
- Electrical testing — verifies functional and parametric performance against the datasheet. The only method that confirms the device actually performs as specified.
These tests are not required for every purchase, but they are appropriate for: any lot destined for defense, aerospace, or medical applications; lots with a unit value high enough to justify counterfeiting; and any lot where visual inspection raised questions.
Layer 5: Reporting
If you receive confirmed counterfeit parts, reporting them creates the intelligence that protects others:
- ERAI — report suspect and confirmed counterfeit parts at ERAI.com
- GIDEP — file a GIDEP alert for parts destined for or originating from the defense supply chain
- The distributor you bought from — a legitimate distributor wants to know and will investigate their supply chain
Counterfeit intelligence is a shared resource. Every confirmed report makes the database more complete and the next buyer's screening more effective.
Summary: The Layered Approach
No single control eliminates counterfeit risk in the obsolete market. What works is layers: a qualified source, purchase order controls, systematic incoming inspection, targeted lab testing, and reporting when something fails. Each layer catches what the previous one misses.
RH Electronics operates all five layers: ISO 9001:2015 QMS, ERAI membership since 1998, GIDEP participation, documented counterfeit control plan, and independent lab testing when warranted. Read our quality program or submit a quote request.