A Reddit user reported purchasing a counterfeit AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D processor from a Walmart store. The item was sold in what appeared to be a factory-sealed box retrieved from a locked display case. The fraud was discovered only after the user attempted to install the CPU, which prevented the computer from booting.
Upon attempting a return, Walmart staff denied the request because the serial number on the processor did not match the one printed on the packaging. The buyer noted that the counterfeit unit featured a blue-tinted circuit board instead of the standard green, and the heat spreader markings were misaligned. Furthermore, the serial number could not be verified in the AMD system.
The buyer paid nearly $500 for the processor. Following the store's refusal to provide a refund, the customer initiated a chargeback process through their bank. The exact method by which the counterfeit product entered the retailer's inventory remains unknown, though experts suggest it could stem from tampered packaging or fraudulent returns.
