Beware of eBay Scams Targeting RTX 5090 and 5080 Buyers
If you’re hoping to secure an Nvidia RTX 5090 or 5080 on eBay, you might want to think twice before hitting that buy button. The secondary GPU market is currently a breeding ground for scams, and a particularly deceptive tactic has surfaced, tricking unsuspecting buyers into paying thousands of dollars for worthless items.
According to Alex Blake of Digital Trends, eBay listings are popping up that appear to sell RTX 5090 and 5080 GPUs at retail price or slightly above. Given the extreme demand and early scarcity of these next-generation cards, a listing that looks legitimate at MSRP might be incredibly tempting. However, hidden in the fine print of the description, the sellers clarify that they aren’t actually selling a graphics card but merely a photo of one. It’s an old scam that’s been around for decades, often used for consoles or other high-demand tech, but it has now resurfaced with Nvidia’s latest GPUs.
The scammers claim that they are doing this to “fool the bots”—automated purchasing programs used by scalpers to scoop up stock before human buyers have a chance. However, this excuse doesn’t hold up under scrutiny. Bots don’t typically operate on eBay; they’re designed to buy from official retailers like Best Buy, Newegg, and Amazon. The real victims of these listings are human buyers who might not take the time to carefully read the description before purchasing. The hope is that a buyer, eager to secure an in-demand card, will see the seemingly fair price, rush to complete the purchase, and only later realize they’ve been duped.
eBay has already started cracking down on these fraudulent listings, but some have managed to complete sales, meaning unlucky buyers are now scrambling to recover their money. While eBay does offer fraud protection, the refund process can take weeks or even months to resolve, depending on the seller’s actions and the payment method used. Credit card chargebacks and PayPal disputes may help, but they aren’t always quick solutions.
This situation serves as yet another reminder that high-demand technology always attracts scams. Whether it’s fake GPU listings, scalpers charging astronomical prices, or deceptive sales tactics, buyers need to be extra cautious. If you’re looking for an RTX 5090 or 5080, it’s best to stick with trusted retailers, even if it means waiting for restocks. Falling for a too-good-to-be-true deal on a secondary marketplace could mean wasting both your time and money on an expensive lesson in buyer awareness.
