Spending $3,000 on a GPU-only to receive rice and pasta-might sound like a parody, but for one unlucky gamer, it became a harsh reality.
In what can only be described as a scam cooked with creativity, a Reddit user shared his experience after ordering an AORUS GeForce RTX 5090 from Amazon Netherlands. Eager to finally upgrade after saving for a year, he went through what seemed like a trustworthy purchase-only to unbox a bizarre assortment of groceries and an ancient, unidentifiable GPU tossed in for good measure.
The box was carefully weighed down with bags of rice and pasta to mimic the heft of a high-end graphics card, all to mislead the shipping process. 
The GPU, supposedly shipped from Spain, arrived with no visual sign of tampering, leaving the buyer initially confused. However, upon opening it, the crushing realization hit: there was no RTX 5090-just pantry essentials and a tech relic.
This scam highlights a growing issue with online tech purchases: even the biggest platforms aren’t immune to clever deception. Amazon, despite its name recognition and global reach, still hosts third-party sellers that can exploit gaps in oversight. It’s not always about where you buy-it’s about who you buy from.
The most stinging irony? The GPU was labeled as “New” and came from what appeared to be a legitimate seller. But trust can be expensive when it’s misplaced.
While the Redditor has initiated a refund process-and the EU’s consumer protections are likely to help-there’s a broader takeaway: don’t blindly trust listings. And definitely don’t spend $3,000 on a GPU from a random online storefront just because the name “Amazon” is on the box.
Tips to avoid falling for GPU scams:
- Buy only from certified stores or physical retailers when possible.
- Use PC-dedicated shops like MicroCenter or MindFactory for high-end purchases.
- Always verify seller ratings, reviews, and return policies.
- Check the packaging carefully when receiving a high-value item-record your unboxing, just in case.
What happened here isn’t just about getting scammed-it’s about how vulnerable consumers are becoming in a digital marketplace where convenience often trumps caution. And while this story ends with some carbs instead of cores, the warning is crystal clear: not every GPU box contains a GPU.