Possibility of Fraud: Game Keys for TF2 Items?

[ℕ Hilbert-WARing Theorem™]

Hey, was recently offered "massive overpay" in Steam/Origin Game Keys for an Australium Blutsauger: http://imgur.com/vgevzY9

His offer included Fallout 4 in addition to other games, which is $59.99 USD in itself, the equivalent of 24 Keys.

 

Seems a bit sketchy, the classic case of "too good to be true". Heard that some Keys are fraudulently obtained via stolen credit cards etc. His account is pretty inactive and he was previously marked on Steamrep for abusing a trading exploit, although he has since appealed that ban. He claims that Keys are unable to be revoked once redeemed and are "tested for legitimacy", but there may be a catch/oversight.

 

His account: https://steamrep.com/?id=76561198063479251

 

Would appreciate a second opinion on whether it is safe to trust the method/this trader

[AFFIRMATIVE]

Never accept steam keys as payment, accept games only if they are as a tradable steam copy in his inventory.

 

Yes, they could've gotten the keys such as the fallout one with a fraudulent credit card or some other means which were against the terms and conditions of the website he purchased it and thus there's a chance that the game could be removed from the owner's library sooner or later because of that, which the owner is you in this case.

 

It doesn't matter if the key is redeemed, if the purchase doesn't respect the terms and conditions then they have the right to revoke it from your library, even if you weren't the one that purchased it.

[zirune]

He claims that Keys are unable to be revoked once redeemed

 

That is false.

[Buy my mixtape fam]

Don't do it. The fact alone that he's giving you $100 worth of stuff for a $15 item should send alarm bells ringing. Plus, Steam gifts can be refunded by the buyer at anytime, so he can deactivate the games.

[Lava]

Reference: https://www.reddit.com/r/SteamGameSwap/comments/3rx4z0/psa_fallout_4_scams/

 

Report his posts, he'll probably get banned. They don't allow CD keys (for good reason) and they'll usually ban for overly sketchy behavior. Also, his Outpost listing is sketchy - http://www.tf2outpost.com/trade/27735650

 

This is a very common method of scamming/laundering used by career criminals/fraudsters. What happens is a scammer buys a huge collection CD keys for newly released AAA titles on stolen credit cards, then quickly sells the keys below market value for anything he can get. Once the owner of the credit card sees unauthorized charges on their card, they dispute it with their bank charging back all the purchases. The CD keys are then revoked, and anyone who redeemed one, despite having installed and played the game, loses it from their library and may have their account suspended for fraud. Meanwhile, the scammer is long gone with the items traded for the CD key, and probably cashed out.

 

A couple red flags here are that he's eager to offer a newly released AAA title, and that he's overpaying with it. Overpaying in a trust trade like that is 99% likely a scam; like you said, if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is. Any time a new and sought after AAA title comes out, you should also be extremely suspicious of anyone trying to sell it, especially if cheap.

 

The caution is probably another red flag to be suspicious of him as a trader, but it's for an unrelated and different type of offense.