Gpu Scam - GoKawiil

Fake RTX 4090 with counterfeit GPU die sold as repair project for $350

A Russian repair specialist known as VIK-off examined an RTX 4090 bought as a bare PCB for about 30,000 rubles ($350) and discovered it contained a fake GPU die soldered on via BGA along with counterfeit memory chips mimicking GDDR6X markings. Closer inspection revealed the die's contact area didn't match a real processor and the solder mask degraded during cleaning, while the memory chips were actually GDDR6 rather than GDDR6X, with VIK-off suggesting the board may actually be a repurposed RTX 3090 Ti PCB.

tomshardware.com · 2026-10-12

Fraudster in Germany sells hollow RTX 5090 GPUs, pockets $5,000 from two buyers

A scammer in Germany sold at least two 'hollow' GeForce RTX 5090 graphics cards, stripped of their GPU die and memory chips, to unsuspecting buyers who paid thousands of dollars for worthless hardware. One victim bought a used Palit RTX 5090 GameRock OC for about $2,090, even meeting the seller in person, but had no way to test the card before handing over cash. Hardware enthusiast Roman 'der8auer' Hartung publicized the cases after uncovering the scheme.

tomshardware.com · 2026-09-08