RTX 5090 Buyer Allegedly Receives Rocks
A cautionary tale for high-end PC hardware shoppers has emerged from a Reddit user’s alarming report. The individual claims that an order for an MSI GeForce RTX 5090 graphics card, purchased for approximately $3,000 through Amazon’s Resale platform, arrived not as a coveted next-gen GPU but as a box containing rocks wrapped in a towel.
The buyer shared photos of the package, which showed an outer protective film and a poorly applied security seal on the box—an immediate red flag for anyone receiving expensive electronics. According to the post, this was reportedly the fourth incident involving a fake or problematic RTX 5090 from Amazon Resale within a single month.
A critical detail in the photos is an LPN (License Plate Number) label, which Amazon uses to track returned items that are processed and resold. This suggests the product was a customer return that entered Amazon’s inventory without the contents being properly verified. The scam likely exploits the weight of high-end graphics cards; the MSI RTX 5090 SUPRIM and its packaging weigh nearly 3.7 kilograms (over 8 pounds), a mass easily mimicked by filler materials like stones to bypass basic automated weight checks.
Fortunately, the buyer stated they recorded an unboxing video, which is essential evidence for disputing such transactions. While the original post did not include the video publicly, documenting the receipt and unboxing of high-value items is a highly recommended practice for all online shoppers.
Also, Read
- Amazon GPU Scam – Buyer Orders RTX 5080, Unboxes Downgraded 5060 Ti in Tampered Box
- AMD Reportedly Shifts Production Focus to RX 9070 XT as Memory Costs Squeeze Margins
- GPU Inflation Reaches New Peak – A Single RTX 5090 Now Costs Nearly as Much as a Complete Gaming PC
As of the report, no resolution has been shared. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the potential pitfalls when purchasing expensive, high-demand technology from third-party resellers, even on major platforms. It underscores the importance of buying from authorized retailers, inspecting packaging thoroughly upon delivery, and meticulously documenting the unboxing process to protect against fraud.
Amazon has not publicly commented on this specific case. Shoppers are advised to exercise heightened caution with high-ticket items, verify the seller’s reputation, and report suspicious activity immediately to the platform’s customer service.
Source: Reddit