A few days ago, we heard the story of a user who, thinking he had found an incredible deal, bought two processors for just 14 euros. However, luck was not on his side, as instead of receiving two units worth 340 euros, he ended up with two empty boxes. In a similar vein, today we have another case: a buyer spent 400 euros on a processor and received a completely different model.
According to his post on Reddit, he intended to upgrade his gaming PC with an Intel i9-10900K, a 2020 processor that, despite being nearly four years old, still costs 400 euros due to its high performance. However, upon opening the package, instead of the expected i9, he found a modest Intel Pentium, a budget-friendly processor designed for basic tasks.
Even though he purchased it through Amazon, that didn’t prevent him from falling victim to a scam. From the moment he received the package, he suspected something was wrong, so he checked the CPU’s 2D matrix, a code that verifies authenticity. His suspicions were confirmed when Intel informed him that the product he received was not the one he had purchased but an extremely well-made counterfeit.
If you have doubts about the authenticity of your Intel processor, there is an easy way to check. On Intel’s official website, you’ll find the Reverse Logistic Toolkit section, which explains how to verify the chip’s 2D matrix. This code, equivalent to the processor’s serial number, helps detect potential counterfeits. If the data doesn’t match, there’s no doubt—you’ve received a fake.
