The launch of Nvidia’s highly anticipated RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 graphics cards has been met with the predictable surge of scalpers and automated bots, driving up prices and frustrating legitimate buyers. However, some eBay users are fighting back with a creative and surprisingly effective tactic: fake listings.
These listings often feature photographs or drawings of the coveted RTX 5090, sometimes with humorous presentations, masquerading as genuine product offers. They often include pricing around MSRP or even lower, enticing bots programmed to snatch up these in-demand items. Subtle warnings like “read description” are strategically placed to alert human buyers to the ruse.
The descriptions reveal the true nature of the listings: images or drawings of the graphics card, not the actual hardware. Some sellers humorously specify that buyers will receive a digital image via email, a print-out, or even a random item from a donation store. For example, one listing explicitly states, “THIS IS JUST A PICTURE OF THE RTX 5090 GRAPHICS CARD PRINTED IN BLACK AND WHITE FROM MY PRINTER. HUMANS DO NOT BUY! ZERO RETURNS! SALES ARE FINAL!” This listing, and others like it, are intended to clog the algorithms used by scalper bots.
A screenshot of a listing on eBay posted to tricks bots and scalpers into buying fake RTX 5090
A simple eBay search for “RTX 5090” reveals a plethora of these fake listings, some even showing sales. Whether these purchases are made by bots or unsuspecting individuals remains unclear, but their presence disrupts the scalpers’ ability to quickly identify and purchase genuine stock.
This innovative response underscores the widespread frustration surrounding the limited availability of Nvidia’s latest RTX 50-series GPUs. Despite the company’s efforts, the RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 have been in short supply since their release on January 30th, leading to significant demand and prompting enthusiasts to resort to extreme measures, such as camping outside retailers.
Gamers Nexus provides an in-depth analysis of the ongoing RTX 50-series GPU shortages in their video, highlighting the extremely limited stock at major retailers like Micro Center, Best Buy, and Newegg, which was depleted within hours of release.
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The situation mirrored globally, with reports of chaotic scenes in Japan, including customers reportedly hopping fences to secure a GPU. One Japanese retailer even implemented a lottery system to manage the overwhelming demand and prevent scalping, but the lottery concluded before many hopeful buyers even arrived, further fueling frustration.
Nvidia anticipated this high demand and potential stock shortages. Tim Adams, Nvidia’s head of GeForce community, acknowledged in the company’s forums, “We expect significant demand for the GeForce RTX 5090 and 5080 and believe stock-outs may happen.” He assured consumers that the company and its partners are continuously shipping more stock to retailers.
Industry analysts predict these supply chain challenges could persist for up to three months, creating an environment ripe for exploitation by scalpers. While system integrators might offer another avenue to acquire an RTX 50-series GPU, consumers should be prepared to pay a premium and potentially purchase unnecessary components if they already own a PC.
