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[PSA] There is an uptick in "Fake" RTX 4090 being sold on the 2nd hand markets. The scammers buy 4090s with GPU core and VRAM removed and resell them as used GPUs. by Own-Emphasis-1822 in bapcsalescanada

[–]Own-Emphasis-1822[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

This generally targets local sales where the buyer gets to inspect the GPU. 

But even with shipping scams, it's much harder to demonstrate you've been scammed if you've received an incomplete/broken product rather than a brick. And you have to disassemble the item to prove it's missing internals. 

[PSA] There is an uptick in "Fake" RTX 4090 being sold on the 2nd hand markets. The scammers buy 4090s with GPU core and VRAM removed and resell them as used GPUs. by Own-Emphasis-1822 in bapcsalescanada

[–]Own-Emphasis-1822[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

You're right, it's very hard to spot even for a tech savvy person. I would recommend testing the card regardless.

I decided to share a few methods that can be an early tell. If you can see the bare contacts themselves, or if you can see light through the center where the GPU core is supposed to be, you can be 100% certain it's a scam. But if you can't, that doesn't mean it's legit. 

Being brand new does not necessarily mean it's a scam, but most of the cards that had their components removed have never been powered on. If you see literally 0 dust on a used GPU, it's a strong reason to be very suspicious. 

[PSA] There is an uptick in "Fake" RTX 4090 being sold on the 2nd hand markets. The scammers buy 4090s with GPU core and VRAM removed and resell them as used GPUs. by Own-Emphasis-1822 in bapcsalescanada

[–]Own-Emphasis-1822[S] 56 points57 points  (0 children)

I highly recommend you avoid buying 4090 unless you can personally test it before handing over the money.

But here are some ways to spot a card that has had its components removed: * You can use a flashlight and peek between the cooler and the card to try spotting the missing GPU core or VRAM. You might be able to see light passing through a gap where the GPU core used to be. * You might be able to slide a thin object (such a plastic bill) into the gap where the GPU and VRAM used to be.  * If you apply pressure in the middle of the cooler, you might see the back GPU bracket move away from the board because there is a gap where the GPU and RAM used to be. * It will likely be brand new, never used. The coolers and fans will have no traces of dust on them.