DDR5 scalper bots now outnumber shoppers 10 to 1 — automated scraping hits listings every 6.5 seconds as 32GB kits surge from $72 to $392, DataDome researcher says
Bad bots account for 91% of the traffic reaching one retailer's DDR5 memory product pages, roughly 10 automated requests for every legitimate visit.
Automated scraping bots now outnumber legitimate shoppers on DDR5 memory product pages by a ratio of 10 to 1, according to Jérôme Segura, VP of threat research at DataDome. This marks a dramatic increase from a previous 6:1 ratio reported in March. The cheapest 128GB DDR5-6400 kit has surged to $3,399, ten times its previous low price.
The chief of Thales predicted bad bots will account for 40% of all web traffic, a figure higher than Segura's DDR5-specific estimate. Bad bots targeted industrial module makers, DIMM socket suppliers, and consumer brands, making 551 visits per listing every six and a half seconds. These bots bypassed cache data and exploited cache-busting parameters.
DataDome's methodology remains undisclosed, and the 91% figure is based on a single retailer. RAM supply to independent module makers could fall to just 30% of 2026 levels next year, with DRAM contract prices expected to rise 13% to 18% in Q3. Market players have placed deposits for most of 2027's DRAM output. A 32GB DDR5-6000 kit that cost $72 last year now averages $392, while a 32GB G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo kit sold for $836.54 on eBay, double its retail price.
Major retailers like Framework, Micro Center, and Newegg have implemented measures to combat scalpers, such as limiting bundle purchases or selling in-store only.
Written by urgent.news from Tom's Hardware's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
