buying keys from reddit?

[shamelesscomb]

hey guys,

i found this key swapping thing on reddit which gives windows and office keys for pretty cheap. im looking to buy ms office professional plus 2016.

how do they get these keys for so cheap? will the keys be official? what happens if i dont get my key? please help me. i dont wanna waste my money

https://www.reddit.com/r/microsoftsoftwareswap/

[Origami Cactus]

They basically probably give away either keys bought with stolen credit cards, or free keys they received from their school/ workplace or even cracked keys.

Before buying an office key i recommend checking your school policy, maybe your school has a deal with microsoft, some schools have a deal with microsoft, so the students receive free office.

[Amazonsucks]

If its stolen keys, remember that its likely a money laundering front like G2A as well.

[LogicalDrm]

6 hours ago, Amazonsucks said:

If its stolen keys, remember that its likely a money laundering front like G2A as well.

G2A requires proof of authorized retailer for Windows keys. So you don't find any in there. Reddit is low-tier in grey market keys as platform isn't taking any part to deal being made. On marketplace sites you get some support from site. Either for free or by paying extra for it.

[Amazonsucks]

1 hour ago, LoGiCalDrm said:

G2A requires proof of authorized retailer for Windows keys. So you don't find any in there. Reddit is low-tier in grey market keys as platform isn't taking any part to deal being made. On marketplace sites you get some support from site. Either for free or by paying extra for it.

I meant generally how G2A is a flimsy front for laundering.

[LogicalDrm]

10 hours ago, Amazonsucks said:

I meant generally how G2A is a flimsy front for laundering.

Unless you have proof...

[Amazonsucks]

5 hours ago, LoGiCalDrm said:

Unless you have proof...

What have you been living under a rock for years? Literally type G2A money laundering fraud into google and youll get tons of info about it.

 

https://www.kitsuga.com/2017/05/03/g2a-fraud-is-worse-than-piracy/

 

https://kotaku.com/notorious-game-key-reseller-g2a-gets-torn-to-shreds-in-1791943348
 

http://www.tinybuild.com/single-post/2017/04/28/G2A-sold-450k-worth-of-our-game-keys

 

For those who cant be bothered to research, the way G2A allegedly works according to game devs and the million articles you can google up is this:

 

Step 1. Carder gets a batch of stolen credit cards and sells them on carding forums or other black market sites. Usually the carder doesnt do the laundering themself.

 

Step 2. Person who buys carded credit cards buys a ton of games full price from Steam, Origin, whatever legit online retailer.

 

Step 3. They then go to G2A or Kinguin, sell the game keys bought with stolen cards for a huge discount.

 

Selling "at a loss" with respect to the purchase price is still 100% profit if it was bought with stolen credit cards. THIS is how a shady reseller can undercut anyone legit.

 

Step 4. The person who bought the games with stolen cards gets paid, G2A takes a cut, and Bartosz Skwarczek and Dawid Rozek(the two Polish guys who run G2A) get paid via their Hong Kong money machine.

 

Then the game studio loses the full price of the game via credit card chargebacks for each copy G2A sells. Hence, the articles about how G2A hurts game studios more than piracy and a dev literally said:

 

"If you're going to buy our games on G2A for peanuts, please just pirate it instead and use that money to donate to a good cause,"

 

http://www.gamerevolution.com/features/13995-indie-dev-asks-you-to-pirate-his-game-rather-than-buy-it-on-g2a

 

Also gotta ask yourself why two guys in Poland NEED to run their business out of Hong Kong if you think theyre legit still.

 

Its probably because no western authority or game developer can sue them or shut them down in Hong Kong.

 

G2A basically passively admits they've been selling fraudulent keys by offering G2A Shield, which is an insurance policy on keys that "dont work" AKA the game studio cancelled them because they were known to have been bought with stolen credit cards. Steam, Origin etc dont NEED to offer such a paid for insurance policy.

 

https://www.polygon.com/2017/4/20/15277588/g2a-shield-fraud-protection-controversy

 

Then of course there was the debacle with them trying to offer a "protection racket"(as described by Total Biscuit) to game devs called G2A Direct.

 

https://www.kotaku.com.au/2017/04/gearbox-hit-with-backlash-for-partnering-with-controversial-game-key-seller-g2a/

 

Then there's G2As other cash cow literally called G2A Goldmine where they give people a cut of the profits for spamming their affiliate links.

 

Speaking of links. Do you need any more links? Like this

 

 

[LogicalDrm]

5 hours ago, Amazonsucks said:

What have you been living under a rock for years? Literally type G2A money laundering fraud into google and youll get tons of info about it.

 

You are so easy to get triggered.

 

Anyway, I'm personally against all marketplace sites which sell keys under their fair value. Whether there was proof of illegal activity or not.

[Amazonsucks]

3 minutes ago, LoGiCalDrm said:

 

You are so easy to get triggered.

 

Anyway, I'm personally against all marketplace sites which sell keys under their fair value. Whether there was proof of illegal activity or not.

 Im not triggered, just very surprised anyone hadnt heard about their shady dealings. Theyve been the bain of the gaming industry for ages.

[LogicalDrm]

6 minutes ago, Amazonsucks said:

 Im not triggered, just very surprised anyone hadnt heard about their shady dealings. Theyve been the bain of the gaming industry for ages.

To be honest I hadn't heard about there being evidence. Back when it was news, there was only rumors. I remember GreenManGaming.com being called out back when Witcher 3 was released by CDPR about selling keys they weren't supposed to have.

[Amazonsucks]

1 hour ago, LoGiCalDrm said:

To be honest I hadn't heard about there being evidence. Back when it was news, there was only rumors. I remember GreenManGaming.com being called out back when Witcher 3 was released by CDPR about selling keys they weren't supposed to have.

Oh yeah there have been cases where devs/game retailers trace the keys to batches of stolen credit cards and everything. Not sure about gmg but i know G2A and Kinguin are not legitimate at all. I think G2A basically just took over the shady key reselling business.