DRAM shortage fuels fake GPU scams as China-based fraudsters exploit the supply crisis — RTX 4080 GPU sold at cut price was actually an RTX 3060 mobile chip with fake VRAM

Scammers in China are taking advantage of the DRAM shortage by selling fake GPUs, such as an RTX 4080 that was actually an RTX 3060 mobile chip with fake VRAM. Brother Zhang, a graphics card technician, exposed this scam on a second-hand marketplace in China. The fraudulent GPU had a significantly reduced price, but upon inspection, it was revealed to have a different silicon chip and suspicious memory chips. The ongoing DRAM crisis has led to a surge in graphics card prices, with Nvidia cutting supply to board partners by up to 20%, potentially driving prices even higher. Consumers are advised to be cautious when buying second-hand GPUs during this shortage.