Russian repair specialist Viktor Veklich, known as Vik-On, has identified a new type of counterfeit Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 graphics card. These devices are being sold for approximately 30,000 ₽, marketed specifically as faulty units intended for repair or as a source of spare parts.
The counterfeit cards are built using printed circuit boards from RTX 3090 Ti models, with component placement designed to mimic the original hardware. Upon inspection, the repair team discovered that the GPU and memory chips are merely metal dummies rather than functional components.
The scam targets buyers looking for damaged high-end hardware for restoration purposes. Because the cards are sold as non-functional, sellers can easily justify the lack of performance. Experts warn that the high level of visual similarity makes these fakes difficult to distinguish from genuine products.
Potential buyers are advised to exercise extreme caution when encountering suspiciously cheap RTX 4090 units. Experts recommend verifying the origin of the hardware and carefully inspecting the PCB layout and chip markings before completing any purchase.
