Steam key removed from library

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Opty1218

Limp Gawd
Joined
Feb 4, 2008
Messages
160
Bought BioShock Infinite a month or so ago via this thread: http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1756531

Logged into Steam today, and it wasn't showing installed, even though in Windows Programs and Features it is still there.
It doesn't show in the account licences page like it used to either.
I tried reactivating the product on steam, but it says the product has already been activated.

Not blaming anyone quite just yet. But it seems suspicious, and I'm wondering if anyone else who purchased from that thread has had the same misfortune.
 
I've heard of this happening but only with keys that were bought from dodgy russian sites. Contact Steam support to see what's up.
 
Last month I was browsing the threads and came across a thread by grendelrt selling BioShock and some other items, since he had it going for a good price I posted in the thread mentioning I was interested and would be sending him a P.M. inquiring on where to send payment to.
Not even a minute later I receive a P.M. from the person in question in this thread, linking to the same exact thread that was posted here.

To me people doing shit like that is underhanded, I knew I had a off putting feeling when I got that message, hopefully this was not the reason why.
 
I bought far cry 3 from that thread.
I guess I should check to see if I still own it.
 
I bought Bioshock Infinite & Crysis 3 from that thread and both of my games are still in their respective libraries and playable as of 05/31/2013. I was emailed an image of the physical codes and not just the codes them self.

It looks like he sold a bunch of keys so hopefully more people will post their experience before passing judgment on the guy. I would start by calling or emailing Steam support and seeing if they can give you an answer.
 
Thank you for contacting Steam Support.

We apologize for the delay.

Your CD Key for this game has been revoked at the request of the publisher.

You will need to contact the seller for further assistance.

Let us know if you have any further questions or concerns.
Click to expand...

Sounds like a chargeback.
 
Opty1218, are you located in US or somewhere else ? What about the seller ? The key might have been removed due to international restrictions.
 
Same thing happened to me concerning my copy Bioshock Infinite bought from the same seller, although don't know if it was the exact same thread. I went to play it and *poof* it was gone. I sent a support email to Steam and according to them:

"Your CD Key for this game has been revoked at the request of the publisher.

You will need to contact the seller for further assistance."

So something fishy may be going on :/
 
I read a post on either a bitcoin or a litecoin forum (I can't remember which and I can't find it currently from work) where someone was asking if you had to return the vouchers with the video cards and what if they were scratched off already... if there was anything they could do about it. I will keep looking to see if I can find it.

edit* he also has a current FS thread: http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?p=1039930432
 
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Has anyone got in touch with the seller of the keys yet? That would be a good place to start, me thinks!
 
I still have Far Cry 3. Mine was redeemed on the EU Ubisoft Store, so hopefully they don't revoke mine.
 
Bosom said:
I read a post on either a bitcoin or a litecoin forum (I can't remember which and I can't find it currently from work) where someone was asking if you had to return the vouchers with the video cards and what if they were scratched off already... if there was anything they could do about it. I will keep looking to see if I can find it.

edit* he also has a current FS thread: http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?p=1039930432
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So were people buying video cards, selling the game codes, and then returning the video cards?
 
Votey said:
So were people buying video cards, selling the game codes, and then returning the video cards?
Click to expand...

I don't know. I read something shady on one of the bitcoin/litecoin discussions on a forum and I can't find where I read it.. it's been far enough back I can't find anything in my browsing history that matches.
 
Being into Bitcoin myself and hanging out on Bitcointalk for over 2 years I can tell you there are a higher number of scammers there than than most boards. Obviously not everybody selling the games is a scammer, but I would take caution with newer users who may have even 50+ heat but only a 2 month account history.

If the codes got revoked either they were stolen (lots of stores like Frys have stacks of those cards - just takes 1 scammer to swipe a bunch) or the person returned the card with the code scratched to the vendor who then passed it on to AMD. I was under the impression that if once you got the code you were stuck with it at full value and if you returned the card you would only get the difference back.

Perhaps Tradio was working the system? Until he comes on here and responds.

It is a violation of ToS to sell the games but looking for a retail boxed copies and non-voucher copies on eBay is pretty much near impossible. Both AMD and eBay turn a blind eye to it (hence I have 2 more to sell ;) )
 
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The code I got from Tradio was European, so I had to use a VPN to get an eu ip and log into ubisoft eu to redeem it.
 
My code stopped working also. Steam said it was revoked due to request from the publisher. Tradio hasn't responded to my PM yet.
 
any word on contacting him? he appears to be signing on everyday, but has yet to explain himself
 
I hope no one used paypal gift.....

If the key was revoked and he won't respond, I would open a dispute and elevate it to a claim if you're still within the timeframe...
 
I contacted him and he provided me a replacement key. From what he said my original key was a valid key from the AMD promo, so no telling why exactly my original key was revoked in the first place.
 
He responded to my PM today and gave me another key. He says he's going to try and see why they got revoked.
 
Hasn't been returning any of my emails. My game disappeared as well. Hopefully he comes through, because I bought the game for a coworker and now its gone.
 
hrm, buy lots of cards, sell gift codes, return cards. The issue being I see and have participated in some of these threads, thinking nothing of it, but seems like there may be a scam going on.
 
Well the code I bought was from an AMD promotion for buying a video card (I think)... which makes it sound WAY worse if not legit. I didn't know he was selling volumes of keys..
 
I've purchased video cards and gotten the vouchers and didn't need to return them when I returned to cards (they never asked) and I didn't see them scan the cards or anything before hand so there is no way to my knowledge they could deactivate those codes if you returned the cards... maybe some places work different but the microcenter down here doesn't
 
So you honestly think you should keep the games even after returning a video card. Let us think about this. Buy 5 video cards, keep all the games and then return the video card. Now let us sale all the game codes for free profit. That isn't how it works, you are suppose to return the game codes if you return the video card.


Klrgoten said:
I've purchased video cards and gotten the vouchers and didn't need to return them when I returned to cards (they never asked) and I didn't see them scan the cards or anything before hand so there is no way to my knowledge they could deactivate those codes if you returned the cards... maybe some places work different but the microcenter down here doesn't
Click to expand...
 
Are you talking about a physical card or a code sent via email? Obviously if it's a voucher card you need to send it back. With email there's no mechanism for "returning" a code emailed to you, once they're gone they're gone.
 
I say leave him/edit heatware if he doesn't respond/get it fixed within a reasonable time frame. He has decent heatware, but most from game sales. If he is a scammer, he's going to scam someone easily soon.
 
KILLER_K said:
So you honestly think you should keep the games even after returning a video card. Let us think about this. Buy 5 video cards, keep all the games and then return the video card. Now let us sale all the game codes for free profit. That isn't how it works, you are suppose to return the game codes if you return the video card.
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What if he buys the card, uses the codes, then decides he doesn't like the card? How is he supposed to revoke the code?

Also, as he said, how would the graphics card company know anyways? I don't remember seeing any bar code or anything on my vouchers so how would they know you used it or what CD-key you used and what not?

Now obviously if you are buying cards JUST for the code then that's messed up...doesn't change the matter of 'how would they know'?
 
First of off why use a code if you aren't sure you are going to keep the video card to begin with? Sometimes you have to use common sense when doing things in life. It bothers me when people uses numerous excuses for doing something wrong to make it like right in their eyes.

The company knows because the returned gpu goes back to them. When you return it and it is missing the included game codes, then it isn't hard to figure out what they did. It is honestly pretty simple. If you want the codes to keep or sale. {Which it is illegal to sale the codes to begin with}. But this is a whole different story. Then sale the card on ebay or the forums and take a little hit on the price.

No different then people returning cpus and gpus because it didn't overclock like their friends cpu or gpu did. That is just plan bad for someone to do that. But yet you see thread after thread of people doing it. Sad how much this world has went down hill. People have no morals or ethics these days. And they have no issue showing it on public forums. But again a totally different story.

Here is the disclaimer to the said games people are selling.
AMD:
Offer may not be exchanged, sold or redeemed for cash or other goods or services and may not be combined with
any other offer, rebate, or discount

Nvidia:
Offer may not be substituted, exchanged, sold, or redeemed for cash or other goods or services.
Click to expand...

Again, I'm just showing this to people. Don't take it as it has anything to do with me. Just pointing out stuff people seem to miss.


JoeUser said:
What if he buys the card, uses the codes, then decides he doesn't like the card? How is he supposed to revoke the code?

Also, as he said, how would the graphics card company know anyways? I don't remember seeing any bar code or anything on my vouchers so how would they know you used it or what CD-key you used and what not?

Now obviously if you are buying cards JUST for the code then that's messed up...doesn't change the matter of 'how would they know'?
Click to expand...
 
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Bosom said:
I hope no one used paypal gift.....

If the key was revoked and he won't respond, I would open a dispute and elevate it to a claim if you're still within the timeframe...
Click to expand...

We're all in speculation land, but a couple points:

Paypal is pretty stingy even if you DIDN'T use gift payments when it comes to digital goods and refunds. Unless you had a physical voucher mailed to you, depending on the mood of Paypal you might get denied on the claim for it being a digital/virtual good. (I have had experience with this personally).

Secondly, speculation land, it sounds as if either this individual landed either a keygen of some sort or might work for a vendor and is pulling codes for resale instead of packing them in with the product (ie: stealing from his place of employment?). Or worse yet, getting product in, reselling the vouchers, then packing them in with product to customers and the customers are then trying to legitimately redeem codes and have proof of purchase, thereby getting yours revoked.

Either way, this individual probably needs mod attention since he's definitely in the vendor class trying to make some income given his sales history, and obviously a shady seller at the very least with poor ethics.
 
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