PC builders and small retailers face a new risk of receiving empty CPU boxes when ordering through third-party sellers on Amazon. A New York-based hardware store, PC Plug, recently encountered this issue twice in just 72 hours. This event exposes a weakness in the online retail supply chain that impacts customers who depend on major marketplaces for essential parts.
Security footage confirms missing silicon in retail packaging
The fraudulent orders involved the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X processor. The retailer placed the orders through Amazon Business Prime but fulfilled them by a third-party seller identified as 'The Tech Group'. The boxes arrived with the retail packaging intact, but the actual silicon chips were missing.
PC Plug maintains a monthly hardware spend of approximately $10,000 on Amazon. The store owner confirmed the fraud by reviewing security camera footage of the unboxing process. The video clearly shows the empty CPU boxes being opened, providing visual proof of the scam.
This event mirrors a previous incident involving a Ryzen 9 9900X3D and a Ryzen 9 3900X. The store owner suspects the seller 'The Tech Group' may have fake ratings to appear legitimate. They estimate this type of bait-and-switch scam has occurred around ten times over the last five years.
Customers purchasing expensive items from third-party vendors on major platforms are advised to check seller reviews and examine packages right after receiving them. Although the retailer notified Amazon, other shoppers using the same vendor still face potential risks.
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