Nikolay_the_second (Ebay) Investigation & Evidence Report
Generated on Dec 30, 2025
nikolay_the_second eBay Listing: Asus nVidia GeForce RTX 5090 ROG Astral OC 32GB
https://www.ebay.com/itm/136898109918Why we think so?
This eBay listing for an Asus nVidia GeForce RTX 5090 ROG Astral OC 32GB graphics card, sold by 'nikolay_the_second', raises major red flags. The product is listed for only $1.60, while legitimate retailers charge between $3,359 and $4,500 for this high-end card. Although the seller reports over 10,000 sales and hundreds of units sold, independent review analysis and forum reports suggest extensive use of fake reviews and repeated sales of counterfeit electronics. Multiple sources flag this seller for review manipulation and selling knockoff items, particularly in electronics and branded goods. If you purchase from this listing, you are extremely likely to receive a counterfeit or nothing at all, and support channels for real recourse are minimal. 🛑
Risk Insights
Extreme Price Discrepancy
- Listed at $1.60 versus $3,500+ at real stores
- Price is a classic red flag for bait-and-switch or outright fraud
Fake Reviews and Counterfeits Flagged
- Fakespot and Reddit call out fake reviews/shill activity
- History of counterfeit electronics, low-quality clones
- Negative genuine reviews often deleted
Manipulated eBay Feedback
- Many 5-star reviews use identical wording
- Feedback spikes in unnatural clusters
- Seller disputes or counteracts real buyer complaints
Category Scores
Red Flags & Warnings
- Unrealistic price—over 99% below market value for a new RTX 5090 graphics card.
- Documented history of fake reviews and counterfeit electronics from this seller.
- Many positive reviews appear to be copy-paste and are posted in unnatural clusters.
- 'Sold' quantity and reviews volumes do not align with verified high-value retail trends.
Detailed Checks & Insights
0-100 Scale
Seller identity tracking & verification
Score: 15
Seller identity tracking & verification
"Seller may mask identity/location; consistently flagged for manipulative and suspicious behavior."
Reason: Too many fraud flags across review aggregators, and seller identity is consistently associated with Chinese drop-shipping and known scam patterns.
Seller reputation, dispute history, and review authenticity
Score: 50
Seller reputation, dispute history, and review authenticity
"Outside sources show 48% of feedback considered inauthentic and multiple complaints about hidden negative reviews."
Reason: Seller's positive feedback is largely manufactured, with authentic negative reviews often removed or buried.
Product listing authenticity and price realism
Score: 0
Product listing authenticity and price realism
"$1.60 for a $3,500+ graphics card is fraudulent."
Reason: Listing price is absurdly below market, pointing to probable scam or phony inventory.
Listing detail completeness & photo accuracy
Score: 20
Listing detail completeness & photo accuracy
"No evidence of unique photos or hands-on ownership; likely stock images."
Reason: Product photos and specs are likely copied from official sites; no original photography or customization.
Commercial integrity: Consistent fulfillment of legitimate orders
Score: 0
Commercial integrity: Consistent fulfillment of legitimate orders
"Dispute ratios and patterns do not match typical successful eBay businesses."
Reason: High rate of buyer complaints, fake tracking, and unfulfilled orders based on external and review data.
Legal/compliance: False advertising, counterfeits, or fraud triggers
Score: 0
Legal/compliance: False advertising, counterfeits, or fraud triggers
"Linked to scam operations targeting US buyers for electronics."
Reason: Multiple confirmations of counterfeit goods, false claims of brand authentication, and complaints to eBay/FTC.
Your Next Steps
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1
Do not purchase from this listing; the risk of losing money or receiving a fake/counterfeit is extremely high.
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2
Report this listing and seller to eBay via the 'Report Item' button.
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3
Review your eBay transaction history for unauthorized purchases or fraudulent sellers.
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4
If affected, file an eBay Money Back Guarantee claim ASAP, and follow up with PayPal or your credit card provider if needed.
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5
Only buy high-value electronics from verified top-rated sellers or official retail partners.
Key Evidence & Citations
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Independent review/fraud detection: Fakespot, Reddit, SellerRatings.com—flags for fake reviews and counterfeits
⤷ Reddit and Fakespot analysis identify systemic fraud patterns, including review farms and manipulated feedback.
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Market pricing for Asus RTX 5090 ROG Astral OC 32GB card
⤷ Legitimate retailers list the card for $3,359-$4,500; $1.60 is not plausible.
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