Few days ago, an Indian buyer ordered a "GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5090" graphics card on Amazon India for ₹2,99,995, which is approximately $3,200, but received a 1 kg packet of Ghadi detergent powder worth about ₹170 (~$2) inside the GPU box. This order was placed on March 10, 2026 and was listed under "Fulfilled by Amazon" (FBA), which is a designation that means the product is stored, packed, and shipped directly from Amazon's own warehouse.
The buyer was an IIT BHU student named "Harsh Raj," with his friend, who needed a high-end GPU for their startup's server infrastructure. The package was delivered on March 14, 2026, but this received package exposed pattern of Amazon India scam; fraudulent sellers, tampered packaging, fake invoices, and a complete failure of Amazon's A-to-Z Guarantee to protect a consumer with undeniable evidence.
Despite submitting a full unboxing video, photographic proof, shipping weight discrepancies, and invoice irregularities to Amazon's Executive Customer Relations team, the refund for both buyers was denied after an eight-day investigation, with Amazon simply claiming "the correct product was shipped."
This incident has now gone massively viral across Reddit, Twitter, and LinkedIn, triggering widespread outrage over Amazon India's buyer protection failure and now people are doubting about the safety of high-value online purchases in India. Because, as of now, the RTX 5090 remains one of the most sought-after and difficult-to-find graphics cards in the world due to a global shortage.
What Happened to Harsh Raj and What Is He Doing Now?
Harsh Raj, who is a student from IIT BHU, and his friend ordered a high-end "GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5090" graphics card for their startup work by paying ₹2,99,995 on Amazon India. The listing was also marked as "Fulfilled by Amazon," which is a feature Amazon itself promotes as a guarantee of safe shipping.
When the package arrived, the outer Amazon shipping bag was sealed, but the GPU box inside showed visible damage and a cut factory seals that were covered with clear tape, and an aftermarket barcode sticker on the front. Inside the GIGABYTE RTX 5090 retail box was nothing but a 1 kg packet of Ghadi detergent, which is a household washing powder worth roughly ₹170.
The buyer immediately documented everything and raised a complaint with Amazon. A full, uncut recording of the delivery and unboxing showed the detergent inside the intact outer bag. The shipping label showed 1.56 kg, while a properly boxed GIGABYTE RTX 5090 weighs nearly 2.5 to 3 kilograms. The buyer noted that 1.66 kg is the exact weight of a 1 kg detergent packet plus bubble wrap and a cardboard box. This clearly shows that the GPU was never inside the box in the beginning itself.
The buyer saw a sliced manufacturer seals that were re-covered with clear tape and a fake aftermarket barcode plastered over the original. The product label listed the seller as FAB World Point, but the invoice was issued under "MOHD KHALID." The invoice also showed 0% GST, even though computer hardware sold legally in India requires an 18% GST rate.
Seeing this, the buyer called out Amazon for "hosting and protecting a seller committing major tax evasion." Additionally, multiple other buyers had reported receiving washing powder from the same seller, "FAB WORLD Point," just days before Harsh Raj's delivery.
Amazon's Response:
The "Amazon Executive Customer Relations" team initially promised a resolution by mid-March. After a legal threat, the team sent an email stating that "the correct product was shipped" and refused the refund. This denial came despite Amazon's own platform stating on the seller's listing: "This item was fulfilled by Amazon, and we take responsibility for this fulfillment experience."
What Harsh Raj Is Doing Now?
The buyer has initiated a chargeback through their Visa debit card and is preparing to move to Consumer Court. The duo has also taken this matter to X (Twitter) and LinkedIn in an attempt to force a resolution and warn other buyers. The case has now gone massively viral, shared by accounts with millions of followers.
Harsh Raj's Reddit thread, which is posted under "u/void_SW" in "r/TwentiesIndia" that is titled as "UPDATE: Ordered an RTX 5090 for 3L on Amazon, got 1kg Ghadi detergent. Amazon DENIED my refund, but I'm not falling back," had garnered thousands of upvotes and widespread support. Legal experts and Reddit users have strongly urged the duo to file a consumer court complaint, where Amazon India's own FBA responsibility clause could be used as key evidence against them.
This incident occurs due to the crisis in the technology market. An ongoing global memory shortage has severely limited the production of top-tier "GPUs" and other "Memory Components" like the RTX 5090, leading to significant price hikes and widespread product scarcity. Scammers are now actively exploiting this high-demand in low-supply environment.
Anyways, what are your thoughts on this matter? What measures do you think a buyer should take when he/she faces this situation? Let me know all your answers in the comments, where you can also provide the latest news so I can make a breakdown of it.
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