A Reddit user discovered significant component fraud after purchasing an MSI RTX 5090 Ventus 3X graphics card from Amazon France. The customer noticed missing tamper seals and confirmed the device remained non-functional during testing. Detailed examination revealed absent memory chips beneath thermal pads and complete removal of the main GPU substrate. The fraud appears connected to Chinese laboratories that extract valuable components from RTX 5090 cards for artificial intelligence server applications.
Criminal networks smuggle these graphics processors to bypass official import restrictions in China. Laboratories strip the GPU die and VRAM modules for installation on custom circuit boards designed for AI workloads. The empty graphics cards then return through supply channels to unsuspecting consumers. This particular case demonstrates that fraudulent products can infiltrate major retailers like Amazon despite their verification processes. The incident highlights widespread component theft affecting high-demand graphics cards.
Criminal networks smuggle these graphics processors to bypass official import restrictions in China. Laboratories strip the GPU die and VRAM modules for installation on custom circuit boards designed for AI workloads. The empty graphics cards then return through supply channels to unsuspecting consumers. This particular case demonstrates that fraudulent products can infiltrate major retailers like Amazon despite their verification processes. The incident highlights widespread component theft affecting high-demand graphics cards.
