So... advertising CD Key sites

[Xzibit]

The issue came back. And it's worse.
Seriously?
https://www.techpowerup.com/252902/save-on-essential-windows-10-and-office-2016-software-on-ekoffers
And you've even blocked comments in this article!

That's what I call dodgy.
Zero credibility. No address. No phone. No proper company registration info. Payment via PayPal only.
Even the name doesn't seem true: https://www.google.com/search?q="Baite+Technical"
Suspicious e-mail: ekoffers1@gmail.com
Amateur, awful site: https://www.ekoffers.com/about-us
FB page (link from site above) possibly already blocked (?): https://www.facebook.com/ek.ekoffer
Domain registered a month ago. Website probably created today.
And my favourite:
View attachment 117381

Looks like most of it was started last month. Not sure how someone can vent them for their practices in a month.

One of the last CD key offers lead to a shady motel.

I did like this part.

You will be able to download software from special download area which will be created after a successful order.
Software products comes as ZIP archives (you will have to extract it first using any archiver, i.e. 7-zip) or as ISO image files (in this case you will have to burn downloaded ISO image file to DVD disk or mount it to virtual drive. You will get step-by-step instructions in your customer area).

They make you feel like your getting the full warez experience

 

[Ruru]

I admit that I sometimes bought games from those cd-key sites, though they seem to be muuuuuuch more trustworthy than this one. If I can get a new AAA title with 40 euros instead of paying 60eur, then why the hell not.. IIRC Fallout 4 is ATM the only game which I've bought at full price on Steam, and I've not even played it much..

They make you feel like your getting the full warez experience

Heh, like I got my Office 2016 Pro Plus (from elsewhere, though). It didn't even ask the damn serial!

 

[OneMoar]

https://www.techpowerup.com/253125/...ice-2016-at-unbeatable-prices-for-techpowerup

illegal key-seller adverts intensify so now instead of promoting gray-market keys we are promoting flat pay-for-piracy

the problem is bta and raven both of them need to have the posting privileges revoked because obviously there is something shady going on here

both of them should know enough to be vetting the stuff they are posting thoroughly and they aren't thats is inexcusable

this hasn't hit the Streisand machine yet but if it keeps up its going to
because if this continues eventually its gonna hit main stream internet-channels and then its gonna rain shit

 

[dorsetknob]

illegal key-seller adverts intensify so now instead of promoting gray-market keys we are promoting flat pay-for-piracy

next time the Site Goes Down you got to wonder that maybe the Site gets hit with a DMCA Takedown Notice

 

[natr0n]

That random who pays for windows comment appears.

 

[GlacierNine]

https://www.techpowerup.com/253125/...ice-2016-at-unbeatable-prices-for-techpowerup

illegal key-seller adverts intensify so now instead of promoting gray-market keys we are promoting flat pay-for-piracy

the problem is bta and raven both of them need to have the posting privileges revoked because obviously there is something shady going on here

both of them should know enough to be vetting the stuff they are posting thoroughly and they aren't thats is inexcusable

this hasn't hit the Streisand machine yet but if it keeps up its going to

Website claims they've "been involved in this field over 10 years". Whois says they registered this domain in November 2017. There are no trustpilot reviews before Jan 2018.

Additionally, their Privacy Policy makes reference to the Data Protection Act 1998, which is no longer in force as it was superseded by the Data Protection Act 2018.

This also places them in the UK, but the constant grammatical mistakes throughout the site just scream that the owner's native language is not English.

```Meanwhile we assure all the sold products are true and valid.Any issues with your purchase, you could contact our 24/7 customer service team, we would help you with your problem at the first time. Also, we support 100% money back guarantee, there is no fear of any loss caused by purchasing on Goodoffer24. ```

Interesting claim to make when the terms and conditions page says:

``` Goodoffer24.com is not responsible for any loss or damage resulting from lost or stolen programs or use without permission. Goodoffer24.com makes no warranties, express or implied, with respect to the Digital programs and disclaims any warranty to the fullest extent available. No returns or refunds accepted. For any technical disputes with any games publisher, you release Goodoffer24.com (and its affiliates and subsidiaries, officers, directors, employees and agents) from any and all claims connected with such dispute. ```

Finally, take a look at their Trustpilot page: https://www.trustpilot.com/review/goodoffer24.com

416 reviews, almost entirely by users with only one review, using extremely similar language and saying things like "Fast delivery" when the site doesn't ship physical products at all.

Note that *none* (I checked) of the 4 or 5 star Trustpilot reviews say "Verified Order" next to them. The majority of the 1 and 2 stars do.

The bad trustpilot reviews all complain that the site is a scam, with one user stating that his Windows Licenses were disabled by Microsoft after a period of time, and the remainder all stating that they don't respond to emails for support.

Also, they've "claimed" their own Trustpilot page, and location is listed as USA. This despite the fact their legal copy references UK law and their grammar screams "English is this person's second language".

Googling the site brings up this report that states they sent a non-working key to a user and didn't respond to emails - https://www.ripoffreport.com/report...essional-that-was-already-in-use-hong-1449999

 

[qubit]

Website claims they've "been involved in this field over 10 years". Whois says they registered this domain in November 2017. There are no trustpilot reviews before Jan 2018.

Additionally, their Privacy Policy makes reference to the Data Protection Act 1998, which is no longer in force as it was superseded by the Data Protection Act 2018.

This also places them in the UK, but the constant grammatical mistakes throughout the site just scream that the owner's native language is not English.

```Meanwhile we assure all the sold products are true and valid.Any issues with your purchase, you could contact our 24/7 customer service team, we would help you with your problem at the first time. Also, we support 100% money back guarantee, there is no fear of any loss caused by purchasing on Goodoffer24. ```

Interesting claim to make when the terms and conditions page says:

``` Goodoffer24.com is not responsible for any loss or damage resulting from lost or stolen programs or use without permission. Goodoffer24.com makes no warranties, express or implied, with respect to the Digital programs and disclaims any warranty to the fullest extent available. No returns or refunds accepted. For any technical disputes with any games publisher, you release Goodoffer24.com (and its affiliates and subsidiaries, officers, directors, employees and agents) from any and all claims connected with such dispute. ```

Finally, take a look at their Trustpilot page: https://www.trustpilot.com/review/goodoffer24.com

416 reviews, almost entirely by users with only one review, using extremely similar language and saying things like "Fast delivery" when the site doesn't ship physical products at all.

Note that *none* (I checked) of the 4 or 5 star Trustpilot reviews say "Verified Order" next to them. The majority of the 1 and 2 stars do.

The bad trustpilot reviews all complain that the site is a scam, with one user stating that his Windows Licenses were disabled by Microsoft after a period of time, and the remainder all stating that they don't respond to emails for support.

Also, they've "claimed" their own Trustpilot page, and location is listed as USA. This despite the fact their legal copy references UK law and their grammar screams "English is this person's second language".

Googling the site brings up this report that states they sent a non-working key to a user and didn't respond to emails - https://www.ripoffreport.com/report...essional-that-was-already-in-use-hong-1449999

This is stooping really low. What the hell is TPU doing? No wonder comments are disabled for these dodgy adverts. @W1zzard you've gotta quit hosting this garbage before you ruin the reputation of your site. This is all on you, no-one else to blame.

 

[OneMoar]

This is stooping really low. What the hell is TPU doing? No wonder comments are disabled for these dodgy adverts. @W1zzard you've gotta quit hosting this garbage before you ruin the reputation of your site. This is all on you, no-one else to blame.

I don't know about the nobody else to blame bit I have a feeling there is something going on behind the scenes that may not be on the up and up and out of his purview

 

[GlacierNine]

I don't know about the nobody else to blame bit I have a feeling there is something going on behind the scenes that may not be on the up and up and out of his purview

Every step of posting a sponsored article is under full scrutiny of our administrator W1zzard.

 

[dorsetknob]

PM from me to
These Keys are not legit

• • 
    
  • dorsetknob
  • btarunr
• Thursday at 11:50 AM

No Reply

 

[GlacierNine]

I would also like to point out that as of today the Techpowerup Patreon still doesn't appear in articles, doesn't appear on the frontpage, doesn't appear in the forums, isn't mentioned in newsposts and hasn't been announced in a frontpage article at all.

As a result it currently has 4 subscribers and brings in a paltry $19 per month.

If this is you trying to keep the lights on @W1zzard, you can do a whole heck of a lot better than selling space to people like this.

 

[EiSFX]

All these cd-key sites are shady AF. Almost all if not all the keys from these sites have been gotten by illgotten gains. Stolen CC numbers, microsoft security alerts AD scams, and others of the like. Also quite a few saved keys from free game days and giveaways. NEVER TRUST THEM.

 

[qubit]

I don't know about the nobody else to blame bit I have a feeling there is something going on behind the scenes that may not be on the up and up and out of his purview

He's the owner, so takes ultimate responsibility. He should have visibility of everything and likely signed the agreement to advertise it.

 

[EiSFX]

I haven't been to Techpowerup in about and year and I come back to this crap? WTF have you become TPU?

 

[Deleted member 67555]

I've been hit with the purchase of $1680 worth of Microsoft purchases...took a month to get it back....actually the bank didn't do anything but give me the stolen money then spread the cost of that loss across all customers without a proper follow through....So imo that 1 month inconvenience was worth the last <$15 OS keys I've used...Microsoft still got their money and the bank recovered their loss by charging EVERYONE....So just chill and enjoy the discount.
It's socialism via corp greed and public thievery....never gonna change
We'll just call it the grey market

 

[EiSFX]

I've been hit with the purchase of $1680 worth of Microsoft purchases...took a month to get it back....actually the bank didn't do anything but give me the stolen money then spread the cost of that loss across all customers without a proper follow through....So imo that 1 month inconvenience was worth the last <$15 OS keys I've used...Microsoft still got their money and the bank recovered their loss by charging EVERYONE....So just chill and enjoy the discount.
It's socialism via corp greed and public thievery....never gonna change
We'll just call it the grey market

Not even close to everybody gets their money back. Actually a very small percentage do. And you are completely missing the point. You don't just sit back and enjoy the discount. By continueing to help them steal more money and continue on letting them grow their illegal bushiness.

But none of that matters to you right as long as your happy it doesn't matter other people are getting ripped off? Let me come by your house and steal your car and total it. Everything should be fine you have insurance and you should be paid back right?

 

[Deleted member 67555]

Not even close to everybody gets their money back. Actually a very small percentage do. And you are completely missing the point. You don't just sit back and enjoy the discount. By continueing to help them steal more money and continue on letting them grow their illegal bushiness.

But none of that matters to you right as long as your happy it doesn't matter other people are getting ripped off? Let me come by your house and steal your car and total it. Everything should be fine you have insurance and you should be paid back right?

If you're in the USA make sure your financial institution is FDIC insured...VISA, American Express and Mastercard as well...FRAUD is covered 100%
You are never going to control the black markets so we instead have grey markets.
The best analogy I have is is fighting this is nothing more than pissing in the wind.

 

[Xzibit]

Its just putting the community at a unnecessary risk of fraud by taking their money and advertising.

 

[Jetster]

I think Wiz knows what he's doing

 

[notb]

https://www.techpowerup.com/253125/...ice-2016-at-unbeatable-prices-for-techpowerup

illegal key-seller adverts intensify so now instead of promoting gray-market keys we are promoting flat pay-for-piracy

the problem is bta and raven both of them need to have the posting privileges revoked because obviously there is something shady going on here

We really don't know how TPU is organized. It's a fairly small site in the end, with just a handful of articles posted every day.
I would expect the senior staff to discuss each text. So I can't believe btarun is posting this stuff without green light. 4-eye principle etc.
But more importantly, the content isn't removed, so it's clearly accepted by the owners.

At least this site, fraud or not, looks like an ongoing activity. The previous one looked (and still does) like a one-off heist...

He's the owner, so takes ultimate responsibility. He should have visibility of everything and likely signed the agreement to advertise it.

Keep in mind there have been some changes in the office. I'm not entirely sure what's the current role of W1zzard.
Darksaber is "Executive Director & Owner" (source: linkedin, TPU not updated). Used to be "senior editor".
btarun is a "Director, News Department" (source: TPU site). Used to be a "High Technology Consultant", whatever that means.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Why is this still being discussed? Microsoft has already made it clear that as long as the rules for selling those keys are followed they are completely ok with digital keys being sold this way. Hell, I bought an LTSB key this way some time ago and not only did it activate properly, it even transferred flawlessly to an LSTC built. Come on folks let it go.

 

[Xzibit]

Why is this still being discussed? Microsoft has already made it clear that as long as the rules for selling those keys are followed they are completely ok with digital keys being sold this way. Hell, I bought an LTSB key this way some time ago and not only did it activate properly, it even transferred flawlessly to an LSTC built. Come on folks let it go.

Do they follow the LT or T&C ?

Successful activation does not confirm that the software is genuine or properly licensed

 

[qubit]

Keep in mind there have been some changes in the office. I'm not entirely sure what's the current role of W1zzard.
Darksaber is "Executive Director & Owner" (source: linkedin, TPU not updated). Used to be "senior editor".
btarun is a "Director, News Department" (source: TPU site). Used to be a "High Technology Consultant", whatever that means.

I still think he's the owner. I've never seen anything to suggest otherwise. Perhaps it's dual ownership with darksaber, I don't know. Ultimately, TPU isn't a registered business. It's just a website set up by private individuals.

 

[Xzibit]

I prefer not to quote Linus but he did do a video recently addressing the $20 CD keys

They aren't intended for North America or European markets

He also repeats what Microsoft says in their Licensing Terms which i quoted in my previous post.

Still software piracy

 

[hat]

Why is this still being discussed? Microsoft has already made it clear that as long as the rules for selling those keys are followed they are completely ok with digital keys being sold this way. Hell, I bought an LTSB key this way some time ago and not only did it activate properly, it even transferred flawlessly to an LSTC built. Come on folks let it go.

The (il)legality of it is one part of the debacle, yes, but just one part. I'm not here to argue whether it's legal or illegal, as I don't know enough about it to say whether it is or isn't... but I do know shady when I see it, and given GlacerNine's report in #106, that site looks about as shady as a cave on the night of the full moon.

Also, I'm not sure exactly what happened to @jmcslob there, but if he was hit like that as a result of using sites that have been promoted here at TPU, well, that's just repugnant.

There should definitely be a better vetting system in place for these sites we're advertising. GlacerNine has one again stepped up and did it with the latest ad. Why can't the ones posting these ads do that? You can't just post garbage and then later say "oh, sorry you got scammed, we'll remove that ad" and then post more garbage.