Buyer Beware! Reports Of Fake Ryzen CPUs Popping Up On Retail Sites

[Batu69]

There are a number of reports of fake Ryzen processors being sold by third party sellers on retail sites such as Amazon and eBay.

Although this is the first time we have seen fake Ryzen processor for sale, the scam isn’t new. In the past, we have seen counterfeit Core i7 processors sold by reputable retailers, as well as fake AMD A-Series A8-7600 processors making the rounds on Amazon.

 

Spoiler

 

In this case, it seems the crooks behind the caper used low-cost Celeron processors for the scam. The process works something like this: The scammer buys a handful of legitimate high dollar AMD Ryzen 7 1800X processors, scans the CPU heatspreader, and then prints a sticker and applies it to the face of the fake CPU (in this case an old Celeron processor). The scammer returns the counterfeit processor to the box, reseals it, and then sells it on eBay / Amazon. This type of scam works because the counterfeit processor looks authentic from the outside of the package.

 

In some cases, the fake product is actually meant to scam the retailer. As some of you are aware, retailers often place returned merchandise back in active inventory and resell it. It could also end up on Amazon’s Warehouse Deals site, after which the fake product ends up in the hands of a retail customer.

 

It is unfortunate that these things happen, but there are a few things you can do to prevent falling victim to this type of scam. Avoid third-party sellers on sites like Amazon, Newegg, Wal-Mart, and others. Pay for purchases with a credit card or services like PayPal that offer hassle-free refunds. Make sure you check the AMD website for tips on recognizing a fake processor or check the serial number on Intel’s website to verify the processor you purchased is legitimate.

 

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[straycat19]

It has been said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

 

It isn't just fake processors you need to worry about.  My niece bought a Disney toy for her son's third birthday from Amazon.  When it arrived she wrapped it up for his birthday party.  When he unwrapped it and saw the box his face lit up.  When he opened the box he started crying.  Inside was a cheap $1 bag of plastic blocks toy blocks.  Someone had bought the toy, carefully unsealed the box, inserted the cheap toy, resealed the box and returned it, where it went back on the shelf without any inspection of the contents.  Amazon has really become a place that is as bad as ebay, even when you are purchasing a product from them and not a third party.  Before buying from Amazon I will drive 2 hours to a store that has what I want so I can inspect the item before buying it.  Most stores will not let you take a laptop out of the box and test it before you buy it, so I take it out to my truck where I have a 110 volt system, unpack the laptop and boot it up, go through the setup and make sure it is working before driving away. The only online store I trust for Laptops is Dell, strictly because of over 25 years experience with them.