Another fake GPU scam has emerged, and this time it involves the highly sought-after GeForce RTX 5090. A user recently reported receiving a defective RTX 5090 GPU, with crucial components such as the GPU and VRAM chips torn off the PCB. This seems to be part of a larger trend involving Chinese labs, where stolen GPUs undergo modification for AI use, stripping away the original components and replacing them with custom parts.
The fake GPUs are then sent back into the supply chain, often ending up on major retail platforms like Amazon.
In this particular incident, a Reddit user named u/Nice-Screen-4193 bought a brand new RTX 5090 directly from Amazon FR, which was supposed to be “sold and shipped by Amazon” and not a third-party seller. The user noticed something odd: one of the screws at the back of the GPU had no tamper seal, suggesting that the device had been opened before. Despite this, the user decided to test it out. Upon further inspection, it was revealed that the GPU didn’t function at all. The PCIe gold finger appeared worn, and the memory chips were missing entirely. The user even discovered that the GPU substrate had been removed and only the soldering points on the PCB were left behind.
This is a classic case of fraud, likely stemming from the practice of Chinese labs converting RTX 5090s into AI-specific units. The labs remove the GPU die and VRAM chips, re-soldering the components onto a new PCB for use in AI servers. After this modification, the empty GPUs are sneaked back into the supply chain, often disguised as legitimate units. The shocking part? Even GPUs sold and shipped by Amazon are not immune to such scams.
The RTX 5090 is especially popular in China due to its use in AI technologies, despite official bans. This has led to a booming black market, where these GPUs are smuggled into the country and re-engineered for other purposes. While it’s one thing to see the RTX 5090 being repurposed for AI use, it’s another to see counterfeit versions slipping back into the supply chain, creating a huge problem for consumers and retailers alike.