A Tale of Counterfeit CPUs, Unhelpful Advice, and Why You Should Never Buy Processors from Third-Party Amazon Sellers
By Geert de Graaf | Originally documented June 2021
TL;DR
I bought an Intel Core i9-9900K from an Amazon marketplace seller. It didn't work. Intel said it was counterfeit, confiscated it, and told me to "buy from authorized distributors next time." Plot twist: there are no authorized Intel distributors that sell to consumers in the Netherlands. Amazon eventually refunded me, but not before I spent 17 days in email hell.
The Upgrade That Wasn't
It was February 2021. I was ready to upgrade my trusty i7-8700K to the glorious i9-9900K. Eight cores! 5.0 GHz boost! I was going to be UNSTOPPABLE in... well, whatever it is people do with that much CPU power. Compile things faster, probably.
I found a great deal on Amazon.de from a seller called "IDTarget" - €347.71 for a brand new, sealed i9-9900K. What could possibly go wrong?
Narrator: Everything. Everything could go wrong.
The Red Flags I Ignored
Looking back, there were signs:
- Third-party seller on Amazon (not sold by Amazon directly)
- Seller based in Portugal with a German VAT number
- Company name "IDENTIC TARGET UNIPESSOAL LDA" - which sounds like either a tech company or a Bond villain's front organization
But hey, it had Amazon's buyer protection, right? RIGHT?
Houston, We Have a Problem
The CPU arrived. I carefully installed it. Hit the power button and...
Nothing.
No POST. No beeps. No signs of life. Just the cold, silent judgment of a motherboard that knew something I didn't.
I tried everything:
- Reseated the CPU
- Checked the socket pins
- Updated BIOS
- Sacrificed a USB cable to the tech gods
Nothing worked.
"It must be defective," I thought. "I'll just RMA it with Intel. They're a professional company. This will be simple."
Narrator: It was not simple.
The Intel RMA Adventure Begins
May 26, 2021 - I contact Intel support with a simple message:
"System is not booting with this processor but is on QVL list."
Intel responds quickly. They create RMA case #05087417 and send me a prepaid DHL label. I ship the processor to their depot in the Netherlands.
I'm feeling good. Professional process. This is how it should work.
Then I wait.
And wait.
And then I receive an email that changes everything.
"We Regret to Advise You..."
June 3, 2021, 13:49 - The email arrives. My heart sinks as I read:
"We regret to advise you that the Product has had the original speed and other markings removed and replaced with false trademarks and/or false trade descriptions..."
Wait, what?
"For these reasons, we are unable to offer you repair, replacement or a refund for the Product."
WHAT?
"As the Product is non-functional and an infringement of Intel's intellectual property rights, it will be retained by Intel pending further investigations and/or destruction."
WHAT?!
So let me get this straight:
- I paid €347.71 for a CPU
- It doesn't work
- Intel says it's fake
- Intel KEEPS IT
- I get nothing
This is fine. Everything is fine.
The Evidence
Intel provided some interesting details. The chip I submitted had these markings on the paperwork:
- S/N: 80KM77650296
- FPO: V026D765
But when they actually looked at the chip, they found:
- FPO: L921E389
- ATPO: 03623
The numbers didn't match! Someone had taken a different chip (probably a lower-end model), remarked it to look like an i9-9900K, and sold it as new.
Looking back at my photos, I can actually SEE the fake FPO "L921E389" printed on the chip. It was there the whole time. The outer packaging and documentation were falsified to show different numbers.
I didn't buy a defective i9-9900K. I bought a counterfeit CPU wearing an i9-9900K costume.
Intel's Helpful Advice
Intel's rejection letter included this gem:
"In the future, we suggest that you make your purchases from sources dealing directly with authorized Intel distributors."
Oh! Of course! Why didn't I think of that? Let me just pop down to my local Intel Authorized Distributor and...
Wait. Let me check Intel's official distributor list for the Netherlands.
Intel Authorized Distributors in Netherlands:
- ALSO Holdings - B2B wholesale distributor
- ELKO GRUPA AS - B2B distributor
- Exertis - B2B technology distributor
- Ingram Micro GmbH - B2B wholesale
- Tech Data International - B2B distributor
- Copaco DC B.V. - B2B IT distributor
Hmm. I'm noticing a pattern here.
THEY'RE ALL B2B COMPANIES. NONE OF THEM SELL TO CONSUMERS.
So Intel's advice is essentially: "Next time, become a business and establish wholesale accounts with our distributors before buying a CPU."
Thanks, Intel. Very helpful. I'll just go incorporate real quick.
The Email Saga
I pointed this out to Intel. Multiple times. Over multiple days.
June 3, 15:21 - Me: "Can you tell me where to find the list of authorized distributors?"
June 3, 16:18 - Intel: "Here's the link to our distributor list!"
June 3, 16:22 - Me: screenshots the list "None of these sell to consumers..."
June 9, 12:20 - Me: "Can I get a reply? There seems to be no authorized dealer that sells to consumers in Ireland and The Netherlands can you confirm this?"
Meanwhile, at Amazon...
While Intel was confiscating my fake CPU and giving me impossible advice, I was also battling Amazon customer service.
Amazon's initial response: "Have you tried contacting the manufacturer?"
Me: "Yes. They said it's fake and kept it."
Amazon: "We'll transfer you to a specialist."
24 hours pass
Amazon: "We'll call you back within 24 hours."
24 hours pass
Amazon: "We'll definitely call you back within 24 hours this time."
I threatened to:
- Contact tweakers.net (Dutch tech news site)
- Do a credit card chargeback
- Write strongly-worded emails (which I was already doing)
The Resolution (Sort Of)
June 12, 2021, 13:51 - Finally, FINALLY, Amazon comes through:
"Given the nature of the product in question there's no need to return the item to us. Please keep or dispose of it at your convenience.
I've requested a refund for the full amount of the item including dispatch costs to your payment card in the amount of EUR 347.71."
Wait... "keep or dispose of it"?
Intel already has it! They confiscated it! It's probably in an evidence locker somewhere in Hillsboro, Oregon, being studied by Intel's Worldwide Investigations team!
But whatever. I got my money back. After 17 days of emails, I got my €347.71 refunded.
And the seller, IDTarget? They sent me one message:
"Sorry for the inconvenience. Please contact Amazon customer service."
Thanks, IDTarget. Very cool.
The Final Insult
I'm back to using my i7-8700K. The upgrade never happened.
I spent:
- €347.71 (refunded)
- 17+ days of my life
- Approximately 50 emails
- My faith in third-party Amazon sellers
And I learned that Intel's advice for avoiding counterfeit products is literally impossible to follow as a consumer in the Netherlands.
Lessons Learned
1. Never Buy CPUs from Third-Party Amazon Sellers
If it's not "Sold by Amazon" or a well-known retailer, walk away. That €20 savings isn't worth the risk of getting a counterfeit product and spending weeks fighting for a refund.
2. Amazon's Buyer Protection Works (Eventually)
It took 17 days and a lot of persistence, but Amazon did refund me. Document everything. Be persistent. Threaten to go public if needed.
3. Intel Can't Help with Counterfeits
If you send Intel a fake product, they will:
- Identify it as fake
- Keep it for investigation
- Give you nothing
- Tell you to buy from distributors that don't exist
4. Take Photos of Everything
I photographed the CPU before sending it to Intel. Those photos actually show the fake FPO (L921E389) that Intel later identified. Without that documentation, I would have had no evidence.
5. The "Authorized Distributor" Advice is Useless
Intel's official list of authorized distributors for the Netherlands contains exactly ZERO consumer retailers. It's all B2B wholesalers. So their advice to "buy from authorized distributors" is basically "go incorporate a business first."
The Aftermath
IDTarget is probably still selling on Amazon. I never did find out what chip was actually underneath those fake i9-9900K markings. And Intel still has my counterfeit CPU in their investigation archives.
But I got my money back, I have a great story, and I learned a valuable lesson about Amazon marketplace sellers.
Next time I need a CPU upgrade, I'm buying directly from a major retailer. Even if it costs a bit more.
Because you know what costs more than paying full price? Getting scammed and spending 17 days fighting for a refund.
Technical Details for the Curious
The Counterfeit CPU Markings:
- External label showed: S/N: 80KM77650296, FPO: V026D765
- Actual chip showed: FPO: L921E389, ATPO: 03623
- Labeled as: Intel Core i9-9900K, SRELS 3.60GHz
The Seller:
- Company: IDENTIC TARGET UNIPESSOAL LDA
- Address: Rua Gonçalves Crespo 16A D2, Arroios, Lisboa, Portugal
- Amazon storefront: IDTarget
- VAT ID: DE334037952
The Timeline:
- Feb 14, 2021: Ordered from Amazon
- Feb 16, 2021: Received CPU
- Late Feb - May 2021: Tried to make it work
- May 26, 2021: Contacted Intel
- May 31, 2021: Shipped to Intel via DHL
- June 3, 2021: Intel rejects claim, keeps CPU
- June 12, 2021: Amazon refunds €347.71
- June 14, 2021: IDTarget's only response: "Contact Amazon"
Final Thoughts
If you're reading this because you're considering buying a CPU from a third-party Amazon seller to save a few euros: don't.
If you're reading this because you already got scammed: document everything, contact Amazon support repeatedly, and don't give up.
And if you're from Intel's marketing department: maybe update that "buy from authorized distributors" advice? It's not helpful when all your distributors are B2B-only.
2025 Update
Four years later, I finally upgraded - but this time I did things differently. I'm now running an AMD Ryzen 9800X3D, purchased directly from Bol.com (no third-party sellers). Lesson learned: buy from reputable retailers, even if it costs a bit more. The peace of mind is worth it.
Have you been scammed by a counterfeit CPU? I'd love to hear your story.
Last updated: November 2025 Originally documented: June 2021