How to Tell if a Samsung Fridge Filter Is Fake
Look at the body of the filter. Samsung says a real canister-style filter has a serial number marked on its body and a rib, and a real torpedo-style filter feels rounded where your fingers grip it. A fake has none of these. A printed NSF logo is not proof, so check NSF's own listing for the model.
Samsung's own HAF-CIN. NSF lists it for lead, cysts and other chemicals (NSF/ANSI 53) and traces of medicines (NSF/ANSI 401). Pack: 1 filter.
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Samsung's own HAF-QIN. NSF lists it for lead, cysts, asbestos, mercury and other chemicals (NSF/ANSI 53) and traces of medicines (NSF/ANSI 401). Pack: 2 filters.
Check price on AmazonAmazon prices as of November 12, 2026 at 12:18 PM ET. Prices can change; the price on Amazon is the one that counts.
What to check on the filter
These checks come from Samsung's own pages.
- Serial number. Samsung says real canister-style filters have a serial number marked on the filter body and counterfeit filters do not.
- Rib. Samsung says real canister-style filters have a rib on the body and counterfeit ones do not.
- Grip. Samsung says a real torpedo-style filter feels rounded where your fingers grip it. A fake feels flat and sharp.
- Authentication Tag. Samsung's filter pages say to use its Authentication Tag to make sure a filter is a genuine Samsung filter.
- Known fake serial numbers. Samsung's UK and Ireland alert of May 14, 2025 says a filter with one of these serial numbers is counterfeit: A8441, AK27, DJ27, A5393, A4461. It says duplicate serial numbers give the fakes away.
Samsung's checks are on its water leak support page, its counterfeit filter alert and the filter pages linked in the sources below.
Check the certification on NSF's site
A printed NSF mark on a box proves little. U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized 3,940 refrigerator filters with counterfeit NSF logos in April 2023, and said copied certifications are extremely difficult to spot.
Look up the model on NSF's own listing instead. NSF lists Samsung's two filters like this, read October 29, 2026:
- HAF-QIN (DA97-17376B): listed under Samsung Electronics for NSF/ANSI 42, 53 and 401. Open the NSF listing.
- HAF-CIN (DA29-00020B): listed under Samsung Electronics for NSF/ANSI 42, 53 and 401. Open the NSF listing.
NSF's listing page warns that people copy and change its text. It says to confirm a listing through the link on NSF's own site, as in the two links above.
HAF-CIN (DA29-00020B): the Samsung filter and certified copies
| Filter | Certified for | Who certified it | Per filter | Per year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WaterSentinel WSS-2 Model WSS-2 · 3 filters | Lead and cysts, PFOA/PFOS, traces of medicines Also listed for PFOA and PFOS (IAPMO R&T W-11584), which Samsung's own filter is not. | NSF and IAPMO 42, 53, 401, P473 | $16.58 | $33.15 | Amazon → |
| Waterdrop WDS-F27 Model WDS-F27 · 3 filters | Lead and cysts IAPMO R&T lists WDS-F27 for lead. Not listed for PFOA/PFOS or medicines. The Amazon title only mentions taste and odor. | NSF and IAPMO 42, 53 | $9.66 | $19.33 | Amazon → |
| Samsung HAF-CIN (Samsung's own filter) Model DA29-00020B · 1 filter | Lead and cysts, traces of medicines | NSF 42, 53, 401 | $39.00 | $78.00 | Amazon → |
Per year = 2 filters, because Samsung says to change it every 6 months. A copy that carries its own certification is not a fake. It is a different filter, certified under its own model code.
HAF-QIN (DA97-17376B): the Samsung filter and certified copies
| Filter | Certified for | Who certified it | Per filter | Per year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waterdrop WDS-F45 Model WDS-F45 · 2 filters | Lead and cysts IAPMO R&T lists WDS-F45 for lead. Not listed for PFOA/PFOS or medicines. | NSF and IAPMO 42, 53 | $12.60 | $25.19 | Amazon → |
| ICEPURE PLUS RWF4200B Model RWF4200B · 3 filters | Lead and cysts IAPMO R&T lists RWF4200B for lead. The plain RWF4200A is taste and odor only. | IAPMO R&T 42, 53 | $17.66 | $35.33 | Amazon → |
| PUREPLUS PP-RWF4200B Model PP-RWF4200B · 1 filter | Lead and cysts IAPMO R&T lists PP-RWF4200B for lead. Rated for 300 gallons. | IAPMO R&T 42, 53 | $24.99 | $49.98 | Amazon → |
| Samsung HAF-QIN, 2-pack (Samsung's own filter) Model DA97-17376B · 2 filters | Lead and cysts, traces of medicines | NSF 42, 53, 401 | $29.50 | $58.99 | Amazon → |
| Samsung HAF-QIN (Samsung's own filter) Model DA97-17376B · 1 filter | Lead and cysts, traces of medicines | NSF 42, 53, 401 | $35.39 | $70.78 | Amazon → |
Per year = 2 filters, because Samsung says to change it every 6 months. A copy that carries its own certification is not a fake. It is a different filter, certified under its own model code.
Which filter does my fridge take?
The HAF-CIN and HAF-QIN are different filters, and Samsung lists each fridge model under only one. Read the number on your old filter, or match your fridge model on our HAF-CIN vs HAF-QIN page. For the full list of copies we checked, see Samsung refrigerator water filter.
Common questions
How can I tell if my Samsung fridge filter is fake?
Look at the body of the filter. Samsung says a real canister-style filter has a serial number marked on its body and a rib, and a fake has neither. A real torpedo-style filter feels rounded where your fingers grip it, while a fake feels flat and sharp. Samsung's filter pages also point to an Authentication Tag for checking that a filter is genuine.
Is the NSF logo on the box proof the filter is real?
No. In April 2023 U.S. Customs seized 3,940 refrigerator filters that carried counterfeit NSF logos, and said such copies are extremely difficult to spot. The proof is NSF's own listing for the exact model. NSF's listing page tells you to confirm a listing through the link on NSF's site.
Which Samsung serial numbers are known fakes?
Samsung's UK and Ireland support alert of May 14, 2025 says a filter with the serial number A8441, AK27, DJ27, A5393 or A4461 is counterfeit. It says duplicate serial numbers give the fakes away.
What happens if I use a fake filter?
Samsung says unapproved filters can lead to leaks and damage to the fridge. U.S. Customs quotes AHAM, the appliance makers' group, saying that counterfeit filters that were tested failed to remove lead and other dangerous chemicals, even though the water may look, smell or taste fine.
Where does Samsung say to buy a filter?
Samsung's U.S. support page says to use only Samsung Genuine Water Filters from its official website. Samsung's UK alert says to buy from Samsung.com, Samsung's authorised spare parts provider, or an authorised service centre.
Is a Waterdrop or WaterSentinel filter a fake?
No. A copy sold under its own brand is a different filter, not a fake Samsung. What matters is that it has its own certification. IAPMO R&T lists the Waterdrop WDS-F45 (HAF-QIN) and WDS-F27 (HAF-CIN) for lead and cysts, and the WaterSentinel WSS-4 (HAF-QIN) and WSS-2 (HAF-CIN) for lead, cysts, medicines, PFOA and PFOS. Samsung itself says to avoid third-party filters because they may leak.
Sources
- Samsung, water leaks in a Samsung refrigerator (serial number, rib, rounded grip), read October 29, 2026.
- Samsung, HAF-QIN and HAF-CIN filter pages (Authentication Tag), read October 29, 2026.
- Samsung UK, counterfeit refrigerator water filters, May 14, 2025, read October 29, 2026.
- Samsung, how to replace the water filter in a Samsung refrigerator (use Samsung Genuine Water Filters; avoid third-party filters), read October 29, 2026.
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection, nearly 4,000 fraudulent refrigerator water filters seized, May 24, 2023, read October 29, 2026.
- NSF certified product listings, DA97-17376B and DA29-00020B, read October 29, 2026. IAPMO R&T certificates current as of October 29, 2026: W-11591, W-10953, W-11583, W-11584 and WP-12586. pld.iapmo.org.
- Amazon listings and prices: read through Amazon's product API. Prices as of November 12, 2026 at 12:18 PM ET. We show a price only if we read it in the last 24 hours.
Related: Samsung HAF-CIN vs HAF-QIN · Samsung refrigerator water filter · best refrigerator water filter · fridge filter finder · our method