A player bought a used Intel Core i9-13900K through Facebook Marketplace. When he couldn’t get the processor to work, he found out that the seller had blocked him. So he sent the device to Intel and received a surprising response: it was a tampered product. This issue affects many marketplaces that are increasingly struggling with fraudsters.
What happened to the user? On Reddit, a user shared his experience regarding a purchase on Facebook Marketplace, stating “Learned an expensive lesson.” He bought a used Intel Core i9-13900K processor for €325 (original price about €500 via Idealo). However, the CPU wouldn’t work. Several tests with different motherboards and RAM were unsuccessful. When the buyer contacted the seller, he was ignored.
In his desperation, the buyer contacted Intel and sent the processor for inspection. The result: it was a tampered CPU, which Intel itself was to dispose of. With the information about the fake, he threatened the seller with the police, to which the seller finally responded. However, the seller insisted that the fault lay with the buyer.
How did the situation end for the user? The user pursued a compromise since the seller supposedly had a receipt. For this reason, he suggested going with the seller to the “Best Buy” store to request a refund there. But so far, he has not received any further response. We will update our article should there be an update from the user.
How you can protect yourself from such cases
Gather information: Educate yourself thoroughly about the product you wish to buy. Pay attention to specific features and compare them with official manufacturer information. Be wary of prices that are too low, which may indicate counterfeits or defective products. Check if there are options for returns or warranties. Of course, you can also ask friends for advice.
Check vendors and sellers: Ensure that you buy from reputable platforms. On Amazon, check which vendor is offering the product. Keep an eye out for negative reviews or complaints on the seller’s profile. Be particularly cautious on “Facebook Marketplace” or classifieds.
Payment and documentation: Avoid transfers or payments without proof. It is better to use payment services like PayPal that offer buyer protection. Keep all communications with the seller as well as receipts and payment records. It may also be advantageous to take pictures of the goods or record a video during unboxing.
If the package arrives in severely damaged condition, you should consider not accepting it at all.
If you already have the product: If you have received a counterfeit or defective product, you should contact the seller immediately and report the problem. Send a detailed description of the issue. Request a refund or exchange.
If the seller does not respond or refuses to resolve the issue, report the incident to the sales platform or the online shop to take advantage of buyer protection. For larger amounts or suspicion of fraud, the police or a consumer protection organization can also be contacted.
Of course, one of the easiest ways to buy new technology is directly from an electronics retailer. There you will often receive extensive advice. In special cases, people even camp in front of the stores when the quantity of certain goods is limited: New graphics card from NVIDIA is so popular that customers camp three days before the store opens.
