Redditor gets a cheap Ryzen 9 9950X3D, only to find the entire CPU missing under a 3D-printed base

From fake GPUs missing their cores and VRAM chips to a box of rocks instead of an RTX 5080, the internet is never short of scam stories. Now we can add another one to the list. This Redditor ended up receiving a fake Ryzen 9 9950X3D CPU from a returns company that handles Amazon stock, not from Amazon's regular retail channel, for just €163 after VAT.

On the PCBuildHelp subreddit, Bimagical420 shared the story, spotted by VideoCardz, of buying an AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D for $180 US, which seemed like a steal since the retail chip sells for over $600. The chip came from a local Amazon returns warehouse, where the buyer was not allowed to inspect the box before purchasing, meaning they had to take the risk. Unfortunately, it didn't pay off.

Upon opening the box, they found an unusual plastic wrapper beneath the CPU's heat spreader. Removing it from the clamshell revealed a 3D-printed backplate with no CPU inside whatsoever. The entire PCB, housing the two Zen 5 CCDs and the I/O die, was completely missing. The IHS was from a real Ryzen 9000-series chip, which was apparently enough to fool Amazon employees into thinking the product was untampered.

The scam worked because AMD's Ryzen CPUs come in packaging with a small cutout showing the CPU inside. Since only the heat spreader and chip name are visible through it, the buyer gambled it would be legitimate. The store's final-sale policy also only allowed inspection of the front label before checkout, leaving no way to verify the contents until after purchase.

2

For Bimagical, the experience left them with a very expensive 9950X3D souvenir. Hopefully, Amazon offers a full refund, but for the rest of us, this is a reminder that if something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Always thoroughly inspect any second-hand component before committing to a purchase. That said, Amazon should also take a hard look at its return policy, which has notoriously been too lenient, making it far too easy for counterfeit items to slip back onto shelves undetected.