A Reddit user reported receiving Intel Core i3-3000 series processors instead of the ordered AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D chips on two separate occasions from Amazon. Despite the packaging appearing intact and sealed, the contents were swapped for decade-old hardware in both instances.
The buyer spent approximately $1,600 on the two orders. After the second incident, which was documented on video, the user opted to purchase the processor from a physical Best Buy store. Amazon is currently processing the refund requests for the affected orders.
Community members noted that both packages featured LPN labels, which are typically used for returned items. This has led to speculation that the issue may stem from flaws in the return processing or inventory management systems, where returned boxes are tampered with before being restocked.
While the exact point of the tampering remains unconfirmed, the incident has raised concerns regarding security vulnerabilities in Amazon's logistics and warehouse operations. Such risks could potentially affect other high-value, compact hardware components like memory modules and SSDs.
