42 bewildered Amazon customers duped by $999 RTX 5090 scam, sent fanny packs instead — bait-and-switch deployed by seemingly reputable buyer

What's the News?

An alarming incident has come to light involving an Amazon seller who successfully scammed 42 customers by listing a fake NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 GPU for $999. Buyers, expecting a cutting-edge graphics card, instead received mere fanny packs in a blatant bait-and-switch operation. This scam exploited the hype around an unreleased product that doesn't officially exist yet.

Why This Matters for Your PC Build

For Indian PC builders, this news is a crucial cautionary tale, not an indicator of market shifts or new GPU availability. The RTX 5090 has not been officially announced or released by NVIDIA. Therefore, any listing for it is, by definition, fraudulent. This incident underscores several critical points: * **Consumer Vulnerability:** The desperation or eagerness to acquire the latest hardware, even before its official launch, makes buyers susceptible to scams. * **Trust in Platforms:** While Amazon is a reputable platform, individual sellers can exploit its marketplace. Always scrutinize seller reviews and ratings, especially for high-value electronics. * **Red Flags for Unreleased Products:** Any listing for a product that hasn't been officially launched by the manufacturer should immediately raise a red flag. Real flagship GPUs don't just appear for sale out of nowhere. * **Market Reality:** While GPU prices have stabilized, this scam is not a sign of impending price drops for future generations. It's an isolated incident of fraud preying on misinformation and hype. Our advice is to exercise extreme caution. Only purchase GPUs and other hardware from authorized retailers after official product launches. Falling victim to such scams not only leads to financial loss but also significant frustration and delays in your PC building plans.

Indian Pricing & Availability

To be absolutely clear: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 is **not officially available, nor has it been announced by NVIDIA.** Therefore, there is no official Indian pricing or availability for this product. The scam price of $999, which duped customers, translates to approximately ₹85,914 (using an exchange rate of ₹86 = $1 USD). It is critical for Indian gamers to understand that even this "scam price" would be suspiciously low for what is expected to be NVIDIA's next flagship graphics card, which typically debut at significantly higher price points globally and in India. Any listing you see for an RTX 5090 in the Indian market right now, at any price, is unequivocally a scam.

PCBuilderHub Verdict

**VERDICT: AVOID COMPLETELY.** There is no actual NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 on the market. Any listing for it is a scam designed to defraud consumers. Do not attempt to purchase this non-existent product. Always wait for official announcements and purchase high-value components only from trusted, authorized retailers. Report any suspicious listings you encounter on e-commerce platforms.