Micro Center Confirms Over 30 Cases of Backpacks Found Inside GeForce RTX 5090 Boxes

An alarming incident has emerged involving a Reddit user who purchased a ZOTAC GeForce RTX 5090 GPU from Micro Center, only to discover that the box contained no GPU whatsoever. Instead, the user found an assortment of backpacks inside the sealed packaging, raising concerns about potential scams related to these high-demand graphics cards.

Unpacking Issues: Micro Center Customer Reports Missing GPU

The issue gained traction when Reddit user u/JamesFerg650 detailed his experience at the Micro Center location in Santa Clara. After purchasing what he believed to be a brand-new ZOTAC GeForce RTX 5090, he was shocked to find nothing but several backpacks inside the sealed box.

RTX 5090 scam incident — Image Credit: reddit.com

What makes this incident particularly troubling is that the box was supposedly intact, suggesting that the tampering occurred prior to the item reaching Micro Center. Thankfully, the user experienced a hassle-free exchange for a functional graphics card. However, this was not an isolated case; reports indicate that Micro Center has identified over 30 similar incidents, all specifically involving ZOTAC RTX 5090 units. This raises serious concerns about the security of the product supply chain, especially since the GPUs were shipped in sealed packaging.

Micro Center’s Response to the Allegation

In light of the situation, Micro Center released a statement expressing their awareness of the reports and their commitment to investigating the legitimacy of these claims. The company stated:

Our team is aware of these reports and are actively investigating the legitimacy of the issue. At this time, we are still working internally with our Santa Clara team to confirm details they have on their end. We sadly do not have any details to confirm if this is indeed true, however we are working as quickly as possible with the Santa Clara team on this. While they are aware of these reports, our team in-store will do everything they can in their typical process to check these items before they are purchased. Our best recommendation from here is speaking with the Santa Clara team in-store if you plan on visiting, for any more information they may have at that time.

–Micro Center, Santa Clara

Subsequent investigations by Micro Center have revealed that the fraudulent activities likely originated from alterations made at the ZOTAC manufacturing facility in China, as highlighted by Videocardz. Notably, the situation has garnered the attention of ZOTAC, with the company reaching out to the original Reddit user for additional context on the matter. Given that these 32 GPUs account for an estimated value of over $90, 000, a comprehensive investigation is crucial to address security lapses in the supply chain.

Protecting Consumers: Recommendations for Future Purchases

In light of these troubling events, potential buyers are advised to consider recording unboxing videos for high-value purchases. This precaution can aid in expediting returns or exchanges, should similar incidents occur in the future.

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