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Seller gets scammed as eBay customer returns $4,000 RTX 5090 with missing GPU core and memory modules — fully working Zotac stripped of most valuable components and sent back
We have another classic case of a PC parts scam involving the RTX 5090. According to an eBay seller, a customer pulled a fast one by returning a Zotac Gaming GeForce RTX 5090 Solid OC worth $4,000 with the GPU die and memory modules missing. The GPU was reportedly in working condition and was tested before the sale was made, but soon after delivery, the customer filed for a return.
Upon receiving the Zotac GPU back, the seller inspected the card and assumed everything was normal. However, the issue was only discovered after the cooler was removed to inspect the PCB.
Pulling components from flagship GPUs has become a common tactic among scammers. That said, it isn’t an easy job. Not only does it require specialized equipment, but it also needs precise temperature control, expert-level soldering skills, and carries a high risk of damaging the hardware.
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Scammers basically earn by reselling the GPU core and memory modules or retrofitting another graphics card with the stolen components. This practice is reportedly being done in China, where RTX 5090 dies, and GDDR7 memory modules are being transplanted onto compact blower-style graphics cards for AI server purposes.
In a similar case from last year, a buyer who purchased a Zotac RTX 5090 for around $2,000 sent the card to the Northwestrepair shop after noticing some issues. Upon inspection, it was discovered that the GPU die and memory chips had been completely removed from the PCB. Since the card appeared mostly intact, aside from a stripped screw, it made the scam difficult to detect without performing a disassembly. However, the repair technician confirmed that the components had been professionally removed.
Another case involved an Amazon customer in France who claimed on Reddit that they ordered an MSI RTX 5090 but received a tampered unit with the GPU core and memory chips missing. According to u/Nice-Screen-4193 on the PCMasterRace subreddit, the package arrived after a long wait and appeared factory-sealed, with no visible signs of tampering. However, after unboxing the GPU, they noticed stripped screws around the GPU core, and a dull or used gold finger on the PCIe connector. Since the card failed to power on, the Redditor did a close inspection with a flashlight, which revealed missing components from the PCB.
With continued demand for AI hardware, sophisticated GPU scams are continuing to grow in number. While it may not be easy to spot them, we highly recommend that you purchase GPUs, especially those that cost thousands of dollars, from a reliable seller or retailer in person. Inspect the card thoroughly and be sure of certain red flags such as broken or missing warranty seals, scratches around the cooler or PCB, stripped or mismatched screws, and any signs of usage around the PCIe connector.
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Kunal Khullar is a contributing writer at Tom’s Hardware. He is a long time technology journalist and reviewer specializing in PC components and peripherals, and welcomes any and every question around building a PC.
Why does anyone even use eBay these days, it’s literally nothing but scammers. ..??? I’m surprised it’s still around?
Exactly.
It baffles me why people buy expensive stuff (or anything) there. eBay after all is an auction house, but now it's a wild west auction house for scammers.
Why does anyone even use eBay these days, it’s literally nothing but scammers. ..??? I’m surprised it’s still around?
100%
I stopped using eBay because they removed all protections for sellers. I had someone send me broken SSDs in a return that weren't the ones I sold with completely mismatched serials. eBay didn't care, I footed the bill and there was no way to protect me as a seller
I still buy on eBay. Not a whole lot, and not pricey stuff. I've had good experience so far.
Of course, the most expensive thing I've bought was around $200 recently, a used HP Elitedesk Mini, which I've been using for several days now, trouble-free. This is a bit of an outlier for me.
But generally, inexpensive odds and ends, books, a CD, a 3400GE APU.
I have purchased full-priced items, SSDs, but those were where the seller was either the manufactuer, or Newegg, and those were new, not used.
I haven't sold anything there since about the turn of the century, I think.
Who wrote this? One of the examples was of a card with no GPU or memory and it was hard to detect without removing parts? And that was found after it went to a repair shop for running oddly?
Um no that would be it didn't work at all. The description of that issue seems so fake I question any of the article is real or verified in any way.
I stopped using eBay because they removed all protections for sellers. I had someone send me broken SSDs in a return that weren't the ones I sold with completely mismatched serials. eBay didn't care, I footed the bill and there was no way to protect me as a seller
