When buying a graphics card, a user has an unpleasant experience and falls victim to a scam. His rewards are a cigarette and a snack.
What happened to the user? The user Naunen reports in his Reddit post from 10.12.2025 that he was deceived on classified ads. Instead of expensive hardware, he received a small package with fake content.
According to the user, he had previously used the classified marketplace without problems, but this time it went wrong.
The Redditor reports that he ordered an RTX 5070 on the platform. However, what arrived was only a small package with a newspaper, a Knoppers, and a cigarette.
In the post, the user explains that he paid via bank transfer. He then asked Reddit for help and inquired: “What can I do now?” Another user purchased a defective Steam Deck and later reported how Valve saved his day on a used purchase.
By the way, our colleagues from GameStar Talk have specifically dealt with the current price increases around RAM. Here’s the video:
Scammers often use bank transfers
In the user’s example, he claims to have paid by bank transfer. A payment method that is not recommended due to its lack of buyer protection.
Why shouldn’t you pay via bank transfer? Used goods sites like classified ads explicitly warn against transactions without the so-called “buyer protection.” This is meant to prevent financial loss on the buyer’s side in case of fraud.
Some comments on Reddit explain that “his money is long gone,” while others advise him to take legal action.
How much money the user lost in the purchase is unclear due to the missing purchase price. In Germany, copies of the RTX 5070 are sold on eBay for about 400 – 550 euros (as of 12.12.2025). Another user has no fear of fraud, as he purposely buys an RTX 4090 at scam prices.
Scams with graphics cards are not uncommon
How can I protect myself from fraud? Many users experience bad experiences, especially in used markets. Fraud with GPUs is particularly popular. Here are some tips on how you can protect yourself:
- Pay with buyer protection, if possible. Use secure payment methods like PayPal or secure payment on classified ads (via classified ads). With PayPal, you must select “with buyer protection” when making a payment; if you choose “friends and family,” buyer protection does not apply. Fees will apply to the seller. Otherwise, it can become very difficult to get your money back.
- Pick up used goods yourself, if possible, and check them immediately upon receipt. Many scammers try to deceive their victims through the postal route. From fake tracking to stones in packages, almost anything is possible.
- Play it safe with reputable shops. Sites like ReBuy, Medimops, and Momox are good places for used goods. Here, private individuals do not sell, but companies that have their good reputation to lose. This gives you greater security when purchasing.
Finally, we always recommend staying vigilant and avoiding impulse purchases. Instead, wait some time and think over offers again, otherwise, it might happen to you like a software engineer who became the target of a scam: A developer loses 50,000 euros because a WhatsApp message promises to make him rich quickly with a simple trick
