A worrying new trend is spreading across online marketplaces. Counterfeit graphics cards, equipped with plastic chips and unusable memory modules, seek to fool buyers.
A deception that pushes audacity further
The used components market is once again affected by sophisticated scams. This time, the scammers aren’t just recycling old GPUs or sending out faulty cards. They now use entirely fake components, made of plastic, to imitate high-end models like the RTX 4090 from NVIDIA.
creating a fake 4090 by repurposing 3080/3090 die is nothing new. whats new, however, is that this specific example uses plastic to imitate the silicon die. there is no « glue »https://OMGPU.com/ »adhesive » surrounding the silicon.
furthermore, the markings are completely incorrect. afaik a « 30 »… pic.twitter.com/QSFOszlkMt
— UNIKO’s Hardware 🌠(@unikoshardware) June 17, 2026
An example spotted on Bilibili shows a card marked ASUS GeForce RTX 4090. At first glance, the GPU appears authentic with its AD102 marking. But a more in-depth test reveals glaring anomalies: the font of the inscriptions does not correspond to that of NVIDIA, and the manufacturing date indicates the year 2030. Around the die, the absence of a QR code and the poor positioning of the capacitors betray the deception.
In reality, the core of the GPU is just a block of plastic on which the references have been engraved. The memory modules visible on the card are just junk without functionality. This deception is particularly difficult to detect without dismantling completely clean the cooler and clean the thermal paste.
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The ad in question offered this dummy RTX 4090 at a price of 1500 RMB, or around 200 euros. An offer that is far too attractive to be honest, knowing that the recommended retail price of this model exceeds 1,600 euros and that its value on the second-hand market remains high. This detail should always serve as a red flag.
These fraudulent practices are unfortunately not limited to platforms between individuals. Even some official resellers have already been caught shipping defective cards or packages containing simple stones in place of the GPU. Although the Chinese authorities have already arrested several scammers, the phenomenon persists in the shadows, taking advantage of high demand and shortages to trap impatient players.
