The most common scams
- The multiply-sold key. One and the same licence key is sold to many buyers. It may activate for the first person, after which Microsoft flags the key as overused.
- The key from the wrong region. Licences intended for other markets or programmes are sold as regular keys. They can be blocked server-side.
- The phantom shop. A professional-looking site, anonymous contact details, no response at all after the purchase. The money is gone.
- The too-good offer. Office or Windows for just a few francs. A price deliberately made too attractive to arouse suspicion.
What you can do if it has already happened
If a purchased key does not work or has been blocked, first document everything: order confirmation, proof of payment, correspondence. Contact the provider, even if there is little hope.
If you paid by credit card or through a payment service, check the possibility of a chargeback. Many payment providers offer buyer protection for services not rendered. In the future, the simplest rule helps: only buy where there is an invoice, reachable support and an activation guarantee.