NVIDIA RTX 4090 GPUs Targeted in Growing Second-Hand Market Scams, More Cases Emerge in China

The second-hand GPU market has become fertile ground for scams, particularly targeting NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 4090 GPUs, driven by increasing global demand and ongoing supply shortages. Recently, new reports from China highlighted severe incidents where consumers were duped into purchasing fraudulent graphics cards that appeared legitimate at first glance. According to a detailed report by MyDrivers, two recent scam cases have come to light, both involving NVIDIA RTX 4090 GPUs sold at deceptively attractive prices.

In the first instance, a consumer acquired an alleged RTX 4090 graphics card for only 3,800 yuan (approximately $520), significantly below market value. Initially, the product appeared authentic, with convincing packaging and warranty labels. However, upon opening the GPU, the buyer discovered that the GPU die was substantially smaller than NVIDIA’s standard AD102-301 chip. Additionally, the scammers had printed "AD102-301" directly onto the GPU to deceive buyers. Closer inspection revealed that the memory modules were polished fake units without any identification markings. These fraudulent components, openly sold in Chinese markets for as low as three yuan per memory module and 100 yuan per GPU die, resulted in the scammer netting a profit exceeding 3,700 yuan.

A second, more audacious scam involved a buyer who purchased what was believed to be an RTX 4090 GPU for 7,000 yuan (around $1,000). The GPU appeared completely genuine externally; however, once opened, it contained no actual GPU or memory chips at all. The victim is currently pursuing recourse with the seller.

These incidents emphasize a significant global issue, not exclusive to China, as scammers exploit high demand and scarce availability to target unsuspecting consumers worldwide. Enthusiasts and potential GPU buyers are strongly advised to thoroughly verify the authenticity of second-hand GPUs by conducting physical inspections, opening cards in the presence of the seller, or performing immediate tests to confirm their functionality and legitimacy.

Stay vigilant! Have you encountered similar GPU scams? Share your experiences and tips for identifying fraudulent hardware in the comments below.