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Scam or legit? This 'lifetime' deal feels wrong

General Discussion by liam_funky 6 replies 408 views
liam_funky

Member OP

Vancouver

9 #1

1. What I found
A) email in spam folder
B) subject: "LIFETIME VPS $19 ONE TIME"
C) sender: [email protected]
D) not vultr.com, note the hyphen

2. Offer details
A) 4 CPU / 8 GB RAM / 200 GB SSD
B) "lifetime, no renewals ever"
C) WHMCS checkout page
I) logo looks slightly off
Ii) favicon is default WHMCS
D) payment: crypto only

3. Red flags
A) domain registered 3 days ago
B) WHOIS privacy on everything
C) support chat "online" at 4 AM with instant replies
I) probably bot
D) TOS copy-pasted from somewhere
I) mentions "Hostinger" by name
Ii) we are not on Hostinger

4. My suspicion
A) stolen WHMCS license or nulled
B) real Vultr being impersonated
C) they collect crypto, provision nothing, disappear

5. What I did
A) screenshot everything
B) forwarded to [email protected]
C) posting here for second opinions

Am I paranoid or is this obviously fake

quinnbizz

Member

#2

IMO you're right to be suspicious. YMMV but the Hostinger mention in TOS is basically a smoking gun—either lazy copy-paste or deliberate misdirection.

The crypto-only payment is another strong signal. Take it with a grain of salt, but legitimate lifetime deals usually have some track record first. This domain is 3 days old.

I'd suggest also checking if the WHMCS license validates. There's a license checker on their site. If it's nulled, that confirms fraud.

...
phasmapiotr

Member

3 #3

Thanks for warning guys. I almost buy thinking it is real Vultr no? Very good catch with TOS copy-paste.

I have see similar offer for "RackNerd" last month, same pattern. Server specs too good, crypto only, WHMCS page look very professional but no real company behind.

You do good thing to report. Maybe save someone money no?

techmei

Member

#4

Update from OP:

whois Vultr-hosting.net

Return fake registrar. Obvious.

dig +short NS Vultr-hosting.net

Use Cloudflare. Free tier. Hide behind.

I email real Vultr abuse team. They respond FAST. Like 2 hour.

They say: "fank you for report, we know this scam, we working wif registrar"

Then: "we give you genuine small lifetime plan as fank you"

WHAT.

Spec: 1 CPU / 1 GB / 20 GB. Not 4/8/200. But REAL. And lifetime.

I still not believe. But account panel work. Server provision. I login.

Moral: report scam. Sometimes karma pay you back XD

My new server hostname: 

vultr.com

They let me choose. I choose this.

RAJ

Member

#5

Real Vultr actually gave you lifetime for reporting? That's wild if true

your margin is my opportunity
nuyekigor

Member

#6

What OS did they put on the 1/1/20 box

JA

Member

#7

Hostinger in the TOS. Dead giveaway every time.

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