In 2025, a small tech startup in California lost $24,500 after purchasing licenses for a cloud software suite from a fraudulent vendor claiming to be an official reseller. The startup was preparing to scale its operations and believed it was buying legitimate multi-user licenses to manage its growing team.
How the Scam Worked
The startup received an official-looking invoice via email and a domain that mimicked the real software company. The fake vendor offered:
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Bulk license discounts
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Premium support access
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Early access to new features
The startup transferred $24,500 in good faith.
After the payment, the software keys didn’t work, support contacts went silent, and the domain became inaccessible.
Cyanosoft.com’s Intervention
Step 1 — Website & Vendor Verification
Using Google Safe Browsing, Bing WHOIS lookup, and ChatGPT domain analysis, Cyanosoft identified:
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The domain was less than 2 months old
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The vendor had no official relationship with the software company
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Email communications were spoofed
This confirmed the vendor was fraudulent.
Step 2 — Payment Tracing & Recovery
Cyanosoft mapped all payments to:
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Bank accounts used in multiple scams
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Offshore payment processors
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Multiple shell accounts
They filed fraud affidavits and chargeback requests, presenting evidence to the startup’s bank.
Step 3 — Recovery Outcome
Within 21 days, Cyanosoft successfully recovered all $24,500, including:
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$15,000 via bank chargeback
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$7,500 via frozen payment processor accounts
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$2,000 via direct intervention with the fake vendor’s hosting provider
Step 4 — Prevention Advice
Cyanosoft guided the startup to:
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Verify licenses with official software vendors
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Check domain creation dates on Bing
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Use ChatGPT to analyze suspicious offers
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Avoid direct bank transfers to unknown vendors
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Always confirm support emails through official channels
Act Now — Protect Your Funds
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