2026 counterfeit and seller-check guide
Fake hardware is only one risk. Mislabelled variants, altered firmware, stolen photographs, hidden faults and shops with weak return routes can all turn a cheap listing into an expensive mistake.
Quick answer: confirm the exact model and variant, compare physical labels with software-reported identity, look for original photographs and consistent serial details, ask for relevant test evidence, research the seller independently and make sure the payment and return route are clear before buying.
Red flags in used PC-part listings
Price without an explanation
A low price can be genuine, but a dramatic gap needs a reason. Compare the exact model and condition - not a broad family name or historic launch price.
Generic or stolen-looking images
Ask for photographs of the actual item, including labels, ports, connectors and defects. Reverse-image searching can reveal reused marketplace or manufacturer images.
Vague specifications
“RTX graphics card” or “1TB SSD” is not enough. Genuine-looking hardware can still be a slower variant, incorrect capacity or completely different model.
Pressure or an unsafe payment route
Be cautious when a seller pushes you off-platform, discourages questions or removes buyer protection. Keep the listing, messages and payment record.
Conflicting identity
The box, cooler, label, serial, BIOS and software report should tell a coherent story. One matching detail is not enough if the rest conflicts.
No fault or return route
A seller should state condition and how a problem is handled. Read the current policy rather than relying on a badge or a promise in an advert.
Three photographs, three different checks
Ask for a clear model-label photograph, a view of the outputs and connectors, and a wider photograph of the complete item. Each answers a different question: which variant is it, does the physical layout make sense, and what condition is actually being offered? Keep full serial details private rather than asking a seller to publish them openly.
| Listing says | Evidence shows | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| RTX 3060 12GB | A model label or specification naming an 8GB variant | Which exact card will be supplied? The 8GB and 12GB versions are not interchangeable. |
| Original retail box included | The box label belongs to a different model | Is this the card’s original packaging or just a shipping box? |
| All outputs working | A damaged socket in the close-up | Which output was checked, and what is the damage? |
A mismatch may be a genuine listing mistake rather than a counterfeit. Resolve it before paying. For the real RTX 3060 variants, see NVIDIA’s specifications.
A five-minute component verification routine
- Name it exactly: record manufacturer, model, capacity, revision and board-partner version where relevant.
- Compare the physical item: inspect labels, PCB or connector layout, ports, cooler design, seals and serial information.
- Check reported identity: for GPUs, a GPU-Z screenshot can support the reported GPU, memory and BIOS details. It does not prove provenance, ownership history or future reliability.
- Look for realistic operation: ask for evidence relevant to the part - detection, capacity, outputs, temperatures, fan behaviour, memory checks or stability under load.
- Keep evidence: save the listing, photographs, messages, invoice and promised condition before payment.
Stop when the story does not join up. A software screenshot can be manipulated, a serial can be copied and a benchmark can come from another machine. Confidence comes from several consistent pieces of evidence plus a usable return route.
How to check if a PC-parts website is legitimate
- Find the real business: look for a legal name, company number where applicable, contact details and a physical correspondence address. The free Companies House search can confirm public company information, but registration alone does not prove a shop is trustworthy.
- Research outside the site: check independent review platforms and read the pattern, dates and detail - not only the average score.
- Read delivery, returns and privacy information: the policies should be accessible, understandable and consistent with checkout.
- Check contactability: send a specific pre-sale question and assess whether the reply addresses the exact product.
- Pay through a protected route: avoid unexpected bank-transfer or cryptocurrency demands. The National Cyber Security Centre’s online-shopping guidance explains how to research unfamiliar shops, pay safely and respond if something goes wrong.
A polished site, old domain or Companies House record is not proof by itself. Use several independent signals and be especially careful when a high-value GPU is paired with urgency, an implausible price or an unusual payment request.
How to check whether GPUsed is legitimate
Apply the same checks to us. You can review our business and contact information, read our current returns policy, inspect our independent review summary and source links, and see the practical testing process we publish.
For an individual item, check the listing’s exact model, photographs, grade, included parts, price and availability. If anything is unclear, ask us before ordering - the same standard you would apply to any other seller.