The internet is full of $5 license keys for $200 software. Some are legitimate region-pricing arbitrage. Most are stolen, refunded, or fake outright. Here's how to tell which is which, and how to protect yourself either way.
Red flags on a software listing
- Price is "too good." Major commercial software is rarely 90% off through anything except a vendor sale or an educational license.
- "Lifetime license" for a tool that has historically been subscription only. Likely a stolen or single-use code.
- Activation requires special instructions. Real software activates with a key. If you need to disable internet, run a script, or paste a code into a "validator," walk away.
- No company information on the listing. A real reseller has a name, address, and a way to file a refund.
- Reseller has no domain you can find. The marketplace listing should match a real company.
Things that look sketchy but are usually fine
- Educational discounts. Verify with the vendor's official policy.
- Lifetime deals on AppSumo and similar. These are negotiated with the vendor; they're real but the vendor sets terms.
- Bundles where you get 3-4 tools together. Genuine. Just verify the vendors directly afterwards.
Protecting yourself when you buy
- Use a credit card, not a debit card. Chargeback rights are stronger.
- Check the refund policy before clicking buy. A 30-day money-back guarantee is the floor for legitimate sellers.
- Confirm the vendor's official channels acknowledge the reseller. A two-minute search saves a lot of pain.
How LionScripts handles this
Every product on LionScripts ships with a 30-day refund window, secure license-key delivery, and source-of-truth pricing. We never use third-party resellers or grey-market keys. See our trust principles and how software licensing actually works.
