eBay Overrun With Fake RTX 5090 Listings to Counter Resellers

A wave of fake RTX 5090 listings has flooded eBay, initially intended to disrupt scalpers but now catching unsuspecting buyers in the process.

One PCMag reader shared their experience: "I accidentally bought a fake 5090 listing this afternoon. The title and images looked real, but I missed the description stating it was only for scalper bots and that I would receive just a photo of the card."

They were charged over $2,300 for a 4x6 picture of the GPU but were able to halt the transaction with eBay’s help. The platform assured them that the payment wouldn’t go through, though they still needed to request a cancellation from the seller. With a service request number in hand, they expect a refund within weeks.

The surge in fake listings appears to be a coordinated effort to counter scalpers profiting from Nvidia’s RTX 5090. Some listings, now deleted, explicitly stated: "THIS IS NOT A REAL CARD, THIS IS ONLY FOR BOTS. YOU WILL ONLY RECEIVE AN IMAGE OF THE CARD VIA EMAIL." Another seller wrote: "DOING THIS TO TAKE A STAND AGAINST BOTS!"

These misleading listings have been appearing in large numbers, with each showing a legitimate-looking GPU image. However, checking the product description reveals the scam, indicating that multiple users are joining forces to flood eBay with false sales.