Velox media under new management

op23 · December 2025

@jokotan said:
As mentioned, I've noticed that site sometimes load some pages but are mostly inaccessible. Conclusion: DDoS attacks are possible or faked. Maybe too early to judge, at least I hope so.

As people have said, this happens every year with the same exit scams... At previous times, was the hoster online in the thread and answering questions or not?

I believe last year theme was victimization. The hoster kept saying that.

ralf · December 2025

@VeloxMedia said:

@ralf said:

@VeloxMedia said:

@Floopster2000 said:

What does your SLA guarantee state? Can you show this to me in the agreement? I've read every agreement I've found and havent seen anything

You might want to update your signature though, it still lists 99.9% Uptime 💀

Still above 99.9%. Apparently been rock solid 173 straight days per the post the page before.

Noted, you also can't do maths. 173 days out of 174 days is 99.4%. The way you're going, it'll be under 50% over the year.

That's not how you calculate SLA. It hasn't been close to 24 hours. Its not even fully down, and not all systems are down. So tell me how many hours can I be down while keeping it 99.9?

So, if it's been rock solid for 173 straight days, it obviously wasn't rock solid 174 days ago...

I guess if your exitscam lasts that long, in a week's time you'll be saying it's 99.9% uptime because it's been rock solid for 6 days now.

KuYeHQ · December 2025

I was very surprised to find that I have a Velmedia VPS that has been offline for several hours, which is terrible.

jsg · December 2025

@Saragoldfarb said:

@jsg said:

@Saragoldfarb said:

@jsg said:

@Saragoldfarb said:

@jsg said:
@VeloxMedia

I'm with you on this.

But you are co-responsible for the shit storm because you stubbornly refused to feed the LET crowd at least some crumbs. Maybe your decision was the right one from a legal perspective but it obviously angers many here.

That said, @LET crowd:

If you want to be angry at someone then it should be Lewis, because it was he who seems to have decided to abandon/sell VeloxMedia quite surprisingly and short term without notifying his customers

As for Eric my guess is that he reacts stubbornly to you trying to push and to press him. To make something very clear: He owes you NOTHING, he has no contract with any of us/you!
Plus - and rightfully - he seems to follow the guideline "How could I be responsible for something I hardly know? Priority number one and two right now are to keep the servers/operations running and to as quickly as possible learn as much as possible about this setup!". Feeding our (understandable) curiosity is not a priority - and it can't and shouldn't be, because first the "who speaks?" must be cleared and set up that is, his company must be set up. As long as it doesn't exist officially it obviously can't make statements.

Until then it's basically his good will to keep the servers running - and that he actually seems to do.

So again, if you want to be angry then you should be angry at the prior owner who did not at all follow established customs, did not inform us in time and seems to have left a mess for his successor to clean up.

You're delusional mate.

"He owes you NOTHING, he has no contract with any of us/you!"

The guy has illegally obtained PII and doesn't give an ass, even sadder, he thinks it's no issue at all. How does he owe us/me nothing?

I'll ignore your ad hominem and respond to what you - kindly note the assumption favourable to you - seem to consider an argument:

If any of us do have a contract, which one might argue we do, then with Lewis, not with the new owner which seems to be a us-american company which seems to not even exist yet. So, good luck in court!

He doesn't even have to be a company to be liable for having illegally obtained EU data and transferring that to the US.

It's not even a court matter. If pursued, they will come after him, even when he's in the US. It's a serious liability and he should really get some legal advice about this matter.

But you kney, legalities aside.

Even if legal...

By your logic, I have nothing to do with him/his contract...

So why does he have our data? And why shouldn't we be upset?

Do you know, as opposed to a wild guess, (a) that our data were transferred to the USA, and (b) if so, by whom?
If you know that they were transferred by Eric, please provide evidence.

And again, one might argue that we (@VeloxMedia's customers) did - and possibly still do - have a contract, but with whom? VeloxMedia? Lewis? And are those even different?

That said, my main concern is that the VPS for which I paid in advance still is working - and that so far it does. Thanks to Eric (and maybe in part to Lewis).
In other words: Yes, something that looks shady was happening but from what (little) I can see nobody was harmed, plus, and even better, a central figure of the new company seems to work quite hard to keep it working. As far as we know - as opposed to wild speculation and yadda yadda - only one single thing is likely to change: below cost services will be terminated or at least not be sold anymore. Which IMO is positive.

He basically admitted he in the us. Cut the crap.

Is it a crime to be there? And anyway him being in the USA != the data transferred to there. From a practicality perspective likely yes but how to judge without knowing with certainty the legally relevant details, who did what, etc?

So, cut the crap ... to use your own words.

So many legal issues he ignores, it's beyond pathetic to defend at this stage.

How many and which ones concrete? Oh, and: I don't defend anyone here; if I defend anything than it's reason, as opposed to vague accusations based on hearsay and speculations like, for example

does he give a fuck about the law? Most definitely not.

Based on nothing, on something like "my gut feeling says so" at best. And how funny saying that while at the same time Eric has actually been attacked for needing some days to set the company up properly ... aka caring for the law.

Saragoldfarb · December 2025

@jsg said:

@Saragoldfarb said:

@jsg said:

@Saragoldfarb said:

@jsg said:

@Saragoldfarb said:

@jsg said:
@VeloxMedia

I'm with you on this.

But you are co-responsible for the shit storm because you stubbornly refused to feed the LET crowd at least some crumbs. Maybe your decision was the right one from a legal perspective but it obviously angers many here.

That said, @LET crowd:

If you want to be angry at someone then it should be Lewis, because it was he who seems to have decided to abandon/sell VeloxMedia quite surprisingly and short term without notifying his customers

As for Eric my guess is that he reacts stubbornly to you trying to push and to press him. To make something very clear: He owes you NOTHING, he has no contract with any of us/you!
Plus - and rightfully - he seems to follow the guideline "How could I be responsible for something I hardly know? Priority number one and two right now are to keep the servers/operations running and to as quickly as possible learn as much as possible about this setup!". Feeding our (understandable) curiosity is not a priority - and it can't and shouldn't be, because first the "who speaks?" must be cleared and set up that is, his company must be set up. As long as it doesn't exist officially it obviously can't make statements.

Until then it's basically his good will to keep the servers running - and that he actually seems to do.

So again, if you want to be angry then you should be angry at the prior owner who did not at all follow established customs, did not inform us in time and seems to have left a mess for his successor to clean up.

You're delusional mate.

"He owes you NOTHING, he has no contract with any of us/you!"

The guy has illegally obtained PII and doesn't give an ass, even sadder, he thinks it's no issue at all. How does he owe us/me nothing?

I'll ignore your ad hominem and respond to what you - kindly note the assumption favourable to you - seem to consider an argument:

If any of us do have a contract, which one might argue we do, then with Lewis, not with the new owner which seems to be a us-american company which seems to not even exist yet. So, good luck in court!

He doesn't even have to be a company to be liable for having illegally obtained EU data and transferring that to the US.

It's not even a court matter. If pursued, they will come after him, even when he's in the US. It's a serious liability and he should really get some legal advice about this matter.

But you kney, legalities aside.

Even if legal...

By your logic, I have nothing to do with him/his contract...

So why does he have our data? And why shouldn't we be upset?

Do you know, as opposed to a wild guess, (a) that our data were transferred to the USA, and (b) if so, by whom?
If you know that they were transferred by Eric, please provide evidence.

And again, one might argue that we (@VeloxMedia's customers) did - and possibly still do - have a contract, but with whom? VeloxMedia? Lewis? And are those even different?

That said, my main concern is that the VPS for which I paid in advance still is working - and that so far it does. Thanks to Eric (and maybe in part to Lewis).
In other words: Yes, something that looks shady was happening but from what (little) I can see nobody was harmed, plus, and even better, a central figure of the new company seems to work quite hard to keep it working. As far as we know - as opposed to wild speculation and yadda yadda - only one single thing is likely to change: below cost services will be terminated or at least not be sold anymore. Which IMO is positive.

He basically admitted he in the us. Cut the crap.

Is it a crime to be there? And anyway him being in the USA != the data transferred to there. From a practicality perspective likely yes but how to judge without knowing with certainty the legally relevant details, who did what, etc?

So, cut the crap ... to use your own words.

So many legal issues he ignores, it's beyond pathetic to defend at this stage.

How many and which ones concrete? Oh, and: I don't defend anyone here; if I defend anything than it's reason, as opposed to vague accusations based on hearsay and speculations like, for example

does he give a fuck about the law? Most definitely not.

Based on nothing, on something like "my gut feeling says so" at best. And how funny saying that while at the same time Eric has actually been attacked for needing some days to set the company up properly ... aka caring for the law.

Head to their discord man. It's all there.

Don't default to baseless slander. It all literally there.

Saragoldfarb · December 2025

Also, you lack any basic legal knowledge it seems... If you cannot grasp the legal implications of transferring personal data from a EU/UK business to an US one... So help us god.

NotFoundException · December 2025

@jsg said: Based on nothing, on something like "my gut feeling says so" at best. And how funny saying that while at the same time Eric has actually been attacked for needing some days to set the company up properly ... aka caring for the law.

Saragoldfarb · December 2025

@NotFoundException said:

@jsg said: Based on nothing, on something like "my gut feeling says so" at best. And how funny saying that while at the same time Eric has actually been attacked for needing some days to set the company up properly ... aka caring for the law.

Lol, I mean.. not lol I guess.

Whats up with people these days? Why deny facts when its all out there in the open? Sad.

Saragoldfarb · December 2025

Looks for where he mentions he doesn't give a fuck about GDPR, and then people explain what it even mean and what the legal implications would be.

He's clueless....

tentor · December 2025

@Saragoldfarb said:
He's clueless....

Is he? He hasn't revealed his identity and finds excuses not to.

NotFoundException · December 2025

@Saragoldfarb said:
Looks for where he mentions he doesn't give a fuck about GDPR, and then people explain what it even mean and what the legal implications would be.

He's clueless....

Nah, he's all protected, trust

Saragoldfarb · December 2025

@NotFoundException said:

@Saragoldfarb said:
Looks for where he mentions he doesn't give a fuck about GDPR, and then people explain what it even mean and what the legal implications would be.

He's clueless....

Nah, he's all protected, trust

Saragoldfarb · December 2025

@tentor said:

@Saragoldfarb said:
He's clueless....

Is he? He hasn't revealed his identity and finds excuses not to.

Lol, he will either disclose at some point or people will find out. Either way he's fucked.

If I were him, I'd pull the plug, take my losses and go after previous owner.

Saragoldfarb · December 2025

Unless... He worked on his PR... I mean, that's basically what fucked him. He could have easily gotten away with it...

Not pretty but when handled well with some damage control... Hardly anyone would have noticed.

rpqu · December 2025

@Saragoldfarb said:

@tentor said:

@Saragoldfarb said:
He's clueless....

Is he? He hasn't revealed his identity and finds excuses not to.

Lol, he will either disclose at some point or people will find out. Either way he's fucked.

If I were him, I'd pull the plug, take my losses and go after previous owner.

I have been saying it for days

@rpqu said:
Eric, if I were you, I would get a lawyer and find a way to annulled the transfer. Document everything. Including your communications with Lewis
I don't know how much you pay (Don't disclosed it before seeing a lawyer). But, I would assume it's amount lower than the possible chargeback

rpqu · December 2025

@ralf said:
So anyway, does Mr Eric have a surname?

What country is Mr Eric based in?

PA, USA
Then, surname seems to be

@VeloxMedia said:

@rpqu said:

@NotFoundException said:

@VeloxMedia said:

@barbarza said:

@VeloxMedia said:

@Neoon said:

You said you not gonna honor the deals, You already said you are different companies, yet you seem to work together.
I hope Stripe and Paypal show you some love, after that many chargebacks.

What are you talking about??? My deals are you talking about peoples original orders? I haven't made any statements about not honoring those at all. I have no intentions of not honoring them and everything is still operational. The plan right now is to keep everything as is.

If you're talking about current promo's/deals going on somewhere for sale, then no we might not honor them. Anything purchased right now is reviewed and accepted or cancelled/refunded. If its a outrageously low deal it'll be refunded, if its somewhat sane it'll be accepted.

We're still waiting for a proper introduction from you. That you haven't done so seems to show that you have something to hide.

Its Christmas man. Give me time

I mean it's hard to make up a last name, I understand it

Something like this one?
https://www.nodeseek.com/post-555993-1

I want to be crystal clear about this specific ticket. The user's 1st order was with Lewis's account then he ordered right when Lewis removed his stripe to a generic one so it failed processing and stuck in pending and didn't actually charge his card for the 2nd order, thus didn't activate the order. I didn't approve this super cheap deal so made sure unpaid and cancelled it.

He was billed for 1 VPS and entitled to 1 VPS per the terms of that specific agreement. I think he saw the pending and thought he was scammed.

TimboJones · December 2025

@ralf said:

@TimboJones said:

@ralf said:
What I don't understand is why other companies attempt to take over this kind of disaster.

I always thought money laundering. If I needed to launder money, seems easier than laundromats. They stink and suck.

They do have at least a thin veneer of plausibility that they're not running a scam. I think it's car washes that are more likely money laundering anyway as they can explain away a larger sum of money.

I think car washes are bad, they have physically limited amount of bays and usually a fixed cost (coins per minute), should vary with season and weather, so it's easier to peg actual vs laundered limits and get caught.

Unless they offer the personal touch hand car wash, then you can charge $$$ without tripping as many alarms.

NotFoundException · December 2025

@TimboJones said: it's easier to peg

naughty

HotaruBlaze · December 2025

Honestly at this point, I'm leaning towards just trying to dispute via paypal, yeah i haven't had many issues apart from my vps ip being initially blacklisted by another upstream for running C2 hosts, but the "new owners" blatant disregard for GDPR puts me in a very dangerous situation.

This also means i cant safely store any data on the VPS. Because myself as a VPS owner is required to protect UK/EU data on my vps, and i cant safely follow that if my provider itself doesn't care.

TimboJones · December 2025

@Proxecure said:

@VeloxMedia said:

@mad_4u said:
i just got one vps for £10 that is 1c1r i guess so as soon as it went down just contacted paypal and got refunded and i am moving on.

Please submit a ticket stating you got refunded and to delete your account and all data so we're not still hosting for free

@mad_4u , dont create a ticket,, enjoy free server,,, its the least u can do to help lewii

This is an asshole thing to do. You know other users are then subsidizing these chargeback users? Fuck you and fuck that.

To claim you didn't receive the service and then continue to use the service is fraud.

rpqu · December 2025

@HotaruBlaze said:
Honestly at this point, I'm leaning towards just trying to dispute via paypal

Here's an example of AI assisted dispute request with facts

@rpqu said:
Sigh, a hypothetical reasoning, for educational purpose

Chargeback Dispute Request - Exit Scam / Services Not Provided

Date: [Current Date - December 27, 2025 or later]
Cardholder Name: [Your Friend's Full Name]
Card Number: [Last 4 digits only - XXXX]
Transaction Date: [Date of Payment - likely late November 2025]
Transaction Amount: [Amount in GBP/USD/EUR]
Merchant Name: [UK Sole Trader's Legal Name] T/A [Trading Name/Brand Name]

Reason for Dispute: Services Not Provided / Merchant Fraud - Exit Scam

I am formally requesting a chargeback for the above transaction due to the merchant's premeditated exit scam and abandonment of contractual obligations.

Summary of Fraudulent Activity

I purchased [specify: VPS/dedicated server/shared hosting] services from [Merchant Name], a UK sole trader, on [transaction date]. I made a one-time prepayment of [amount] for a [2 or 3]-year service contract that was to run from [start date] through [end date - 2027 or 2028].

The merchant has disappeared after executing a clear exit scam, taking prepaid funds from multiple customers while abandoning all service obligations.

Timeline of Exit Scam

June 2025: The merchant began aggressive pricing campaigns on [forum name], offering deals significantly cheaper than competitors to attract customers into long-term prepaid contracts.

November 2025 (Black Friday): The merchant intensified the scheme with extremely aggressive 2-3 year deals at prices well below market rates, designed to maximize prepaid revenue before disappearing. I purchased my service during this period.

December 20, 2025: The merchant posted on Reddit seeking someone to "take over" the business, a common exit scam tactic.

December 23, 2025: Public disclosure on [forum name] revealed the merchant had disappeared with both:
- Customer prepayments for multi-year contracts
- Business transfer funds from a prospective buyer (US citizen)

December 24-26, 2025: Services are only running because the defrauded US buyer paid infrastructure bills out of pocket. I have no contract with this third party and no guarantee of continued service.

Evidence of Premeditated Fraud

Suspicious Business Practices: The merchant operated for nearly 4 years without proper UK business registration disclosure (legal name "ABC" was not displayed with trading name as required by UK Companies Act). This violation was only discovered 23 days before the merchant disappeared, suggesting awareness of impending legal scrutiny.

Predatory Pricing Pattern: From June through November 2025, the merchant systematically offered below-market pricing specifically to lock customers into long-term prepaid contracts, maximizing the value of the exit scam.

Multi-Year Prepayment Strategy: The merchant pushed 2-3 year contracts heavily during Black Friday 2025, collecting maximum prepayments immediately before disappearing.

Triangle Scam: The merchant solicited a business buyer, collected transfer funds from that buyer on December 23, 2025, then disappeared with both transfer payments and customer prepayments.

Complete Abandonment: The merchant has not responded to any communications since December 23, 2025, and has made no attempt to fulfill service obligations or issue refunds.

Multiple Victims: Numerous customers on [forum name] have reported being defrauded, with contract ages ranging from 6 months to just weeks old. All involve multi-year prepayments.

Material Breach of Contract

I paid for: [2 or 3] years of hosting services ([start date] to [end date])

I received: Approximately [X weeks/days] of service before merchant abandonment

Services owed but not provided: [Calculate: nearly the entire contract period - e.g., "approximately 35 months of the 36-month contract remain unfulfilled"]

Contract value unfulfilled: Approximately [calculate percentage - e.g., "97% of the contract value"]

Current Service Status Does Not Fulfill My Contract

While services are temporarily operational, this does NOT satisfy my contract because:

No Contractual Relationship: I have no agreement with the US citizen currently maintaining the infrastructure. My contract was exclusively with the UK sole trader who has abandoned obligations.

No Service Guarantees: The US citizen is acting as a "good Samaritan" and may discontinue services at any time. He has specifically mentioned seeking to discontinue "unfair" contracts.

Breach of Original Terms: My contract specified terms, service levels, and support from the UK trader. None of these are being honored.

Temporary Charity ≠ Contracted Service: Service continuation is at the discretion of a third party who has no obligation to me and has explicitly stated the arrangement is unsustainable.

Supporting Documentation

I have attached the following evidence:

Payment Proof: Invoice/receipt showing [amount] paid on [date] for [2-3] year contract

Contract Terms: Original service agreement and terms accepted at purchase

Exit Scam Evidence:

Screenshot of Reddit post dated December 20, 2025 (merchant seeking business buyer)

Screenshots of [forum name] posts from December 23, 2025 (disclosure of merchant disappearance with funds)

Forum discussions showing multiple victims with similar circumstances

Attempted Contact: Evidence of unanswered emails/messages to merchant (dates: [list dates])

Timeline Documentation: Evidence of aggressive pricing campaigns June-November 2025

Business Registration Issue: Documentation of the merchant's failure to properly display legal business name (discovered 23 days before disappearance)

Requested Resolution

I request a full chargeback or pro-rata of [amount] under the following reason codes:

Visa: Reason Code 30 (Services Not Provided or Not as Described)

Mastercard: Reason Code 4853 (Goods or Services Not Provided)

Alternative: Fraud classification given the clear exit scam pattern

Justification Summary

The merchant:

Engaged in a premeditated exit scam by offering aggressive multi-year deals specifically to maximize prepayments before disappearing

Breached contract by abandoning service obligations after collecting [2-3] years of prepayment

Failed to provide approximately [X%] of contracted services

Committed fraud by taking funds with no intention of fulfilling long-term obligations

Is completely unreachable and has made no attempt at refund or service continuation

Defrauded multiple customers in an identical pattern, demonstrating systematic fraud

This is not a dispute over service quality or minor issues - this is outright theft through a calculated exit scam.

I did not receive the services I paid for, the merchant has disappeared with prepaid funds, and I have no contractual protection for the remaining [X months/years] of service I purchased.

Cardholder Signature: ___________________________

Date: ___________________________

Contact Information:
Email: [email]
Phone: [phone]
Address: [address]

TimboJones · December 2025

@ralf said:

@VeloxMedia said:

@Neoon said:

@VeloxMedia said:
Also another update. I'm seeing some chargeback emails. I can't see the statuses as I can only see the emails that come into Lewis's old Velox mailbox. So if anyone files a chargeback I'll be terminating their account and deleting all their data. I believe this is the best course of action and follows Lewis's original TOS. Its the most fair way and completely your decision as a buyer and your agreement between you and Lewis's company. It isn't fair for users to receive a refund while still keeping their full service.

Why do you even care? Its not your Paypal or Stripe account, or is it?

Because its not fair that they're getting a full refund and I'm hosting their data. That's called fraud.

They need to pick a lane, Either they can take the path of litigation and try to get a refund or they can continue the service that's working perfectly fine. You don't get both legally

Is it fair that people have paid in full and you're threatening to pull their service because you think Lewis sold it too cheaply?

How about YOU pick a lane dude.

You're thinking that he has any responsibility towards someone who charged back the service he claimed to the payment service that he's not receiving the service? GTFO.

Saragoldfarb · December 2025

@rpqu said:

@HotaruBlaze said:
Honestly at this point, I'm leaning towards just trying to dispute via paypal

Here's an example of AI assisted dispute request with facts

@rpqu said:
Sigh, a hypothetical reasoning, for educational purpose

Chargeback Dispute Request - Exit Scam / Services Not Provided

Date: [Current Date - December 27, 2025 or later]
Cardholder Name: [Your Friend's Full Name]
Card Number: [Last 4 digits only - XXXX]
Transaction Date: [Date of Payment - likely late November 2025]
Transaction Amount: [Amount in GBP/USD/EUR]
Merchant Name: [UK Sole Trader's Legal Name] T/A [Trading Name/Brand Name]

Reason for Dispute: Services Not Provided / Merchant Fraud - Exit Scam

I am formally requesting a chargeback for the above transaction due to the merchant's premeditated exit scam and abandonment of contractual obligations.

Summary of Fraudulent Activity

I purchased [specify: VPS/dedicated server/shared hosting] services from [Merchant Name], a UK sole trader, on [transaction date]. I made a one-time prepayment of [amount] for a [2 or 3]-year service contract that was to run from [start date] through [end date - 2027 or 2028].

The merchant has disappeared after executing a clear exit scam, taking prepaid funds from multiple customers while abandoning all service obligations.

Timeline of Exit Scam

June 2025: The merchant began aggressive pricing campaigns on [forum name], offering deals significantly cheaper than competitors to attract customers into long-term prepaid contracts.

November 2025 (Black Friday): The merchant intensified the scheme with extremely aggressive 2-3 year deals at prices well below market rates, designed to maximize prepaid revenue before disappearing. I purchased my service during this period.

December 20, 2025: The merchant posted on Reddit seeking someone to "take over" the business, a common exit scam tactic.

December 23, 2025: Public disclosure on [forum name] revealed the merchant had disappeared with both:
- Customer prepayments for multi-year contracts
- Business transfer funds from a prospective buyer (US citizen)

December 24-26, 2025: Services are only running because the defrauded US buyer paid infrastructure bills out of pocket. I have no contract with this third party and no guarantee of continued service.

Evidence of Premeditated Fraud

Suspicious Business Practices: The merchant operated for nearly 4 years without proper UK business registration disclosure (legal name "ABC" was not displayed with trading name as required by UK Companies Act). This violation was only discovered 23 days before the merchant disappeared, suggesting awareness of impending legal scrutiny.

Predatory Pricing Pattern: From June through November 2025, the merchant systematically offered below-market pricing specifically to lock customers into long-term prepaid contracts, maximizing the value of the exit scam.

Multi-Year Prepayment Strategy: The merchant pushed 2-3 year contracts heavily during Black Friday 2025, collecting maximum prepayments immediately before disappearing.

Triangle Scam: The merchant solicited a business buyer, collected transfer funds from that buyer on December 23, 2025, then disappeared with both transfer payments and customer prepayments.

Complete Abandonment: The merchant has not responded to any communications since December 23, 2025, and has made no attempt to fulfill service obligations or issue refunds.

Multiple Victims: Numerous customers on [forum name] have reported being defrauded, with contract ages ranging from 6 months to just weeks old. All involve multi-year prepayments.

Material Breach of Contract

I paid for: [2 or 3] years of hosting services ([start date] to [end date])

I received: Approximately [X weeks/days] of service before merchant abandonment

Services owed but not provided: [Calculate: nearly the entire contract period - e.g., "approximately 35 months of the 36-month contract remain unfulfilled"]

Contract value unfulfilled: Approximately [calculate percentage - e.g., "97% of the contract value"]

Current Service Status Does Not Fulfill My Contract

While services are temporarily operational, this does NOT satisfy my contract because:

No Contractual Relationship: I have no agreement with the US citizen currently maintaining the infrastructure. My contract was exclusively with the UK sole trader who has abandoned obligations.

No Service Guarantees: The US citizen is acting as a "good Samaritan" and may discontinue services at any time. He has specifically mentioned seeking to discontinue "unfair" contracts.

Breach of Original Terms: My contract specified terms, service levels, and support from the UK trader. None of these are being honored.

Temporary Charity ≠ Contracted Service: Service continuation is at the discretion of a third party who has no obligation to me and has explicitly stated the arrangement is unsustainable.

Supporting Documentation

I have attached the following evidence:

Payment Proof: Invoice/receipt showing [amount] paid on [date] for [2-3] year contract

Contract Terms: Original service agreement and terms accepted at purchase

Exit Scam Evidence:

Screenshot of Reddit post dated December 20, 2025 (merchant seeking business buyer)

Screenshots of [forum name] posts from December 23, 2025 (disclosure of merchant disappearance with funds)

Forum discussions showing multiple victims with similar circumstances

Attempted Contact: Evidence of unanswered emails/messages to merchant (dates: [list dates])

Timeline Documentation: Evidence of aggressive pricing campaigns June-November 2025

Business Registration Issue: Documentation of the merchant's failure to properly display legal business name (discovered 23 days before disappearance)

Requested Resolution

I request a full chargeback or pro-rata of [amount] under the following reason codes:

Visa: Reason Code 30 (Services Not Provided or Not as Described)

Mastercard: Reason Code 4853 (Goods or Services Not Provided)

Alternative: Fraud classification given the clear exit scam pattern

Justification Summary

The merchant:

Engaged in a premeditated exit scam by offering aggressive multi-year deals specifically to maximize prepayments before disappearing

Breached contract by abandoning service obligations after collecting [2-3] years of prepayment

Failed to provide approximately [X%] of contracted services

Committed fraud by taking funds with no intention of fulfilling long-term obligations

Is completely unreachable and has made no attempt at refund or service continuation

Defrauded multiple customers in an identical pattern, demonstrating systematic fraud

This is not a dispute over service quality or minor issues - this is outright theft through a calculated exit scam.

I did not receive the services I paid for, the merchant has disappeared with prepaid funds, and I have no contractual protection for the remaining [X months/years] of service I purchased.

Cardholder Signature: ___________________________

Date: ___________________________

Contact Information:
Email: [email]
Phone: [phone]
Address: [address]

Please don't... Cut the AI crap.

ralf · December 2025

@TimboJones said:

@ralf said:

@TimboJones said:

@ralf said:
What I don't understand is why other companies attempt to take over this kind of disaster.

I always thought money laundering. If I needed to launder money, seems easier than laundromats. They stink and suck.

They do have at least a thin veneer of plausibility that they're not running a scam. I think it's car washes that are more likely money laundering anyway as they can explain away a larger sum of money.

I think car washes are bad, they have physically limited amount of bays and usually a fixed cost (coins per minute), should vary with season and weather, so it's easier to peg actual vs laundered limits and get caught.

Unless they offer the personal touch hand car wash, then you can charge $$$ without tripping as many alarms.

The problem with launderettes (laundromat for you) is that the machines take so long. If the washing machine has an hour cycle and only charges $2-3 (no idea of US price, I've only used them in Taiwan recently, and there it was about $2 for an hour and about $0.25 per 7 minutes on the driers) so even if you have 10 of each machine it's hard to explain a turnover of more than around $1000 a day when busy 24/7.

For a car wash, in the UK you'd be looking at 5-10 GBP and it'd take about 5 minutes. My gut thought is that because it's much quicker and more expensive, you'd shift more through it, but I guess you're right that they might only have 1 or 2 lanes and probably only operate certain hours. Probably not much in it either way.

rpqu · December 2025

@Saragoldfarb said:

@rpqu said:

@HotaruBlaze said:
Honestly at this point, I'm leaning towards just trying to dispute via paypal

Here's an example of AI assisted dispute request with facts

@rpqu said:
Sigh, a hypothetical reasoning, for educational purpose

Chargeback Dispute Request - Exit Scam / Services Not Provided

Date: [Current Date - December 27, 2025 or later]
Cardholder Name: [Your Friend's Full Name]
Card Number: [Last 4 digits only - XXXX]
Transaction Date: [Date of Payment - likely late November 2025]
Transaction Amount: [Amount in GBP/USD/EUR]
Merchant Name: [UK Sole Trader's Legal Name] T/A [Trading Name/Brand Name]

Reason for Dispute: Services Not Provided / Merchant Fraud - Exit Scam

I am formally requesting a chargeback for the above transaction due to the merchant's premeditated exit scam and abandonment of contractual obligations.

Summary of Fraudulent Activity

I purchased [specify: VPS/dedicated server/shared hosting] services from [Merchant Name], a UK sole trader, on [transaction date]. I made a one-time prepayment of [amount] for a [2 or 3]-year service contract that was to run from [start date] through [end date - 2027 or 2028].

The merchant has disappeared after executing a clear exit scam, taking prepaid funds from multiple customers while abandoning all service obligations.

Timeline of Exit Scam

June 2025: The merchant began aggressive pricing campaigns on [forum name], offering deals significantly cheaper than competitors to attract customers into long-term prepaid contracts.

November 2025 (Black Friday): The merchant intensified the scheme with extremely aggressive 2-3 year deals at prices well below market rates, designed to maximize prepaid revenue before disappearing. I purchased my service during this period.

December 20, 2025: The merchant posted on Reddit seeking someone to "take over" the business, a common exit scam tactic.

December 23, 2025: Public disclosure on [forum name] revealed the merchant had disappeared with both:
- Customer prepayments for multi-year contracts
- Business transfer funds from a prospective buyer (US citizen)

December 24-26, 2025: Services are only running because the defrauded US buyer paid infrastructure bills out of pocket. I have no contract with this third party and no guarantee of continued service.

Evidence of Premeditated Fraud

Suspicious Business Practices: The merchant operated for nearly 4 years without proper UK business registration disclosure (legal name "ABC" was not displayed with trading name as required by UK Companies Act). This violation was only discovered 23 days before the merchant disappeared, suggesting awareness of impending legal scrutiny.

Predatory Pricing Pattern: From June through November 2025, the merchant systematically offered below-market pricing specifically to lock customers into long-term prepaid contracts, maximizing the value of the exit scam.

Multi-Year Prepayment Strategy: The merchant pushed 2-3 year contracts heavily during Black Friday 2025, collecting maximum prepayments immediately before disappearing.

Triangle Scam: The merchant solicited a business buyer, collected transfer funds from that buyer on December 23, 2025, then disappeared with both transfer payments and customer prepayments.

Complete Abandonment: The merchant has not responded to any communications since December 23, 2025, and has made no attempt to fulfill service obligations or issue refunds.

Multiple Victims: Numerous customers on [forum name] have reported being defrauded, with contract ages ranging from 6 months to just weeks old. All involve multi-year prepayments.

Material Breach of Contract

I paid for: [2 or 3] years of hosting services ([start date] to [end date])

I received: Approximately [X weeks/days] of service before merchant abandonment

Services owed but not provided: [Calculate: nearly the entire contract period - e.g., "approximately 35 months of the 36-month contract remain unfulfilled"]

Contract value unfulfilled: Approximately [calculate percentage - e.g., "97% of the contract value"]

Current Service Status Does Not Fulfill My Contract

While services are temporarily operational, this does NOT satisfy my contract because:

No Contractual Relationship: I have no agreement with the US citizen currently maintaining the infrastructure. My contract was exclusively with the UK sole trader who has abandoned obligations.

No Service Guarantees: The US citizen is acting as a "good Samaritan" and may discontinue services at any time. He has specifically mentioned seeking to discontinue "unfair" contracts.

Breach of Original Terms: My contract specified terms, service levels, and support from the UK trader. None of these are being honored.

Temporary Charity ≠ Contracted Service: Service continuation is at the discretion of a third party who has no obligation to me and has explicitly stated the arrangement is unsustainable.

Supporting Documentation

I have attached the following evidence:

Payment Proof: Invoice/receipt showing [amount] paid on [date] for [2-3] year contract

Contract Terms: Original service agreement and terms accepted at purchase

Exit Scam Evidence:

Screenshot of Reddit post dated December 20, 2025 (merchant seeking business buyer)

Screenshots of [forum name] posts from December 23, 2025 (disclosure of merchant disappearance with funds)

Forum discussions showing multiple victims with similar circumstances

Attempted Contact: Evidence of unanswered emails/messages to merchant (dates: [list dates])

Timeline Documentation: Evidence of aggressive pricing campaigns June-November 2025

Business Registration Issue: Documentation of the merchant's failure to properly display legal business name (discovered 23 days before disappearance)

Requested Resolution

I request a full chargeback or pro-rata of [amount] under the following reason codes:

Visa: Reason Code 30 (Services Not Provided or Not as Described)

Mastercard: Reason Code 4853 (Goods or Services Not Provided)

Alternative: Fraud classification given the clear exit scam pattern

Justification Summary

The merchant:

Engaged in a premeditated exit scam by offering aggressive multi-year deals specifically to maximize prepayments before disappearing

Breached contract by abandoning service obligations after collecting [2-3] years of prepayment

Failed to provide approximately [X%] of contracted services

Committed fraud by taking funds with no intention of fulfilling long-term obligations

Is completely unreachable and has made no attempt at refund or service continuation

Defrauded multiple customers in an identical pattern, demonstrating systematic fraud

This is not a dispute over service quality or minor issues - this is outright theft through a calculated exit scam.

I did not receive the services I paid for, the merchant has disappeared with prepaid funds, and I have no contractual protection for the remaining [X months/years] of service I purchased.

Cardholder Signature: ___________________________

Date: ___________________________

Contact Information:
Email: [email]
Phone: [phone]
Address: [address]

Please don't... Cut the AI crap.

Read it first before saying anything

ralf · December 2025

@TimboJones said:

@ralf said:

@VeloxMedia said:

@Neoon said:

@VeloxMedia said:
Also another update. I'm seeing some chargeback emails. I can't see the statuses as I can only see the emails that come into Lewis's old Velox mailbox. So if anyone files a chargeback I'll be terminating their account and deleting all their data. I believe this is the best course of action and follows Lewis's original TOS. Its the most fair way and completely your decision as a buyer and your agreement between you and Lewis's company. It isn't fair for users to receive a refund while still keeping their full service.

Why do you even care? Its not your Paypal or Stripe account, or is it?

Because its not fair that they're getting a full refund and I'm hosting their data. That's called fraud.

They need to pick a lane, Either they can take the path of litigation and try to get a refund or they can continue the service that's working perfectly fine. You don't get both legally

Is it fair that people have paid in full and you're threatening to pull their service because you think Lewis sold it too cheaply?

How about YOU pick a lane dude.

You're thinking that he has any responsibility towards someone who charged back the service he claimed to the payment service that he's not receiving the service? GTFO.

No. Maybe you missed the context of the thread. He was threatening to pull service from people who had paid in full for a 3 year deal because Lewis had sold them too cheaply. He wasn't offering refunds, just saying it was unfair to expect him to honour the contract.

EDIT: see https://lowendtalk.com/discussion/comment/4694093#Comment_4694093

HotaruBlaze · December 2025

@rpqu said:

@Saragoldfarb said:

@rpqu said:

@HotaruBlaze said:
Honestly at this point, I'm leaning towards just trying to dispute via paypal

Here's an example of AI assisted dispute request with facts

@rpqu said:
Sigh, a hypothetical reasoning, for educational purpose

Chargeback Dispute Request - Exit Scam / Services Not Provided

Date: [Current Date - December 27, 2025 or later]
Cardholder Name: [Your Friend's Full Name]
Card Number: [Last 4 digits only - XXXX]
Transaction Date: [Date of Payment - likely late November 2025]
Transaction Amount: [Amount in GBP/USD/EUR]
Merchant Name: [UK Sole Trader's Legal Name] T/A [Trading Name/Brand Name]

Reason for Dispute: Services Not Provided / Merchant Fraud - Exit Scam

I am formally requesting a chargeback for the above transaction due to the merchant's premeditated exit scam and abandonment of contractual obligations.

Summary of Fraudulent Activity

I purchased [specify: VPS/dedicated server/shared hosting] services from [Merchant Name], a UK sole trader, on [transaction date]. I made a one-time prepayment of [amount] for a [2 or 3]-year service contract that was to run from [start date] through [end date - 2027 or 2028].

The merchant has disappeared after executing a clear exit scam, taking prepaid funds from multiple customers while abandoning all service obligations.

Timeline of Exit Scam

June 2025: The merchant began aggressive pricing campaigns on [forum name], offering deals significantly cheaper than competitors to attract customers into long-term prepaid contracts.

November 2025 (Black Friday): The merchant intensified the scheme with extremely aggressive 2-3 year deals at prices well below market rates, designed to maximize prepaid revenue before disappearing. I purchased my service during this period.

December 20, 2025: The merchant posted on Reddit seeking someone to "take over" the business, a common exit scam tactic.

December 23, 2025: Public disclosure on [forum name] revealed the merchant had disappeared with both:
- Customer prepayments for multi-year contracts
- Business transfer funds from a prospective buyer (US citizen)

December 24-26, 2025: Services are only running because the defrauded US buyer paid infrastructure bills out of pocket. I have no contract with this third party and no guarantee of continued service.

Evidence of Premeditated Fraud

Suspicious Business Practices: The merchant operated for nearly 4 years without proper UK business registration disclosure (legal name "ABC" was not displayed with trading name as required by UK Companies Act). This violation was only discovered 23 days before the merchant disappeared, suggesting awareness of impending legal scrutiny.

Predatory Pricing Pattern: From June through November 2025, the merchant systematically offered below-market pricing specifically to lock customers into long-term prepaid contracts, maximizing the value of the exit scam.

Multi-Year Prepayment Strategy: The merchant pushed 2-3 year contracts heavily during Black Friday 2025, collecting maximum prepayments immediately before disappearing.

Triangle Scam: The merchant solicited a business buyer, collected transfer funds from that buyer on December 23, 2025, then disappeared with both transfer payments and customer prepayments.

Complete Abandonment: The merchant has not responded to any communications since December 23, 2025, and has made no attempt to fulfill service obligations or issue refunds.

Multiple Victims: Numerous customers on [forum name] have reported being defrauded, with contract ages ranging from 6 months to just weeks old. All involve multi-year prepayments.

Material Breach of Contract

I paid for: [2 or 3] years of hosting services ([start date] to [end date])

I received: Approximately [X weeks/days] of service before merchant abandonment

Services owed but not provided: [Calculate: nearly the entire contract period - e.g., "approximately 35 months of the 36-month contract remain unfulfilled"]

Contract value unfulfilled: Approximately [calculate percentage - e.g., "97% of the contract value"]

Current Service Status Does Not Fulfill My Contract

While services are temporarily operational, this does NOT satisfy my contract because:

No Contractual Relationship: I have no agreement with the US citizen currently maintaining the infrastructure. My contract was exclusively with the UK sole trader who has abandoned obligations.

No Service Guarantees: The US citizen is acting as a "good Samaritan" and may discontinue services at any time. He has specifically mentioned seeking to discontinue "unfair" contracts.

Breach of Original Terms: My contract specified terms, service levels, and support from the UK trader. None of these are being honored.

Temporary Charity ≠ Contracted Service: Service continuation is at the discretion of a third party who has no obligation to me and has explicitly stated the arrangement is unsustainable.

Supporting Documentation

I have attached the following evidence:

Payment Proof: Invoice/receipt showing [amount] paid on [date] for [2-3] year contract

Contract Terms: Original service agreement and terms accepted at purchase

Exit Scam Evidence:

Screenshot of Reddit post dated December 20, 2025 (merchant seeking business buyer)

Screenshots of [forum name] posts from December 23, 2025 (disclosure of merchant disappearance with funds)

Forum discussions showing multiple victims with similar circumstances

Attempted Contact: Evidence of unanswered emails/messages to merchant (dates: [list dates])

Timeline Documentation: Evidence of aggressive pricing campaigns June-November 2025

Business Registration Issue: Documentation of the merchant's failure to properly display legal business name (discovered 23 days before disappearance)

Requested Resolution

I request a full chargeback or pro-rata of [amount] under the following reason codes:

Visa: Reason Code 30 (Services Not Provided or Not as Described)

Mastercard: Reason Code 4853 (Goods or Services Not Provided)

Alternative: Fraud classification given the clear exit scam pattern

Justification Summary

The merchant:

Engaged in a premeditated exit scam by offering aggressive multi-year deals specifically to maximize prepayments before disappearing

Breached contract by abandoning service obligations after collecting [2-3] years of prepayment

Failed to provide approximately [X%] of contracted services

Committed fraud by taking funds with no intention of fulfilling long-term obligations

Is completely unreachable and has made no attempt at refund or service continuation

Defrauded multiple customers in an identical pattern, demonstrating systematic fraud

This is not a dispute over service quality or minor issues - this is outright theft through a calculated exit scam.

I did not receive the services I paid for, the merchant has disappeared with prepaid funds, and I have no contractual protection for the remaining [X months/years] of service I purchased.

Cardholder Signature: ___________________________

Date: ___________________________

Contact Information:
Email: [email]
Phone: [phone]
Address: [address]

Please don't... Cut the AI crap.

Read it first before saying anything

Yeah no, i ain't touching that AI drivel when dealing with something that actually means something. AI is not and should never be used for legal advice.

I know if i was Paypal/Visa/Mastercard and saw that, I'd already be weary of it.

HotaruBlaze · December 2025

Also my main reason for this specific vps was to host authentication and git repo's... with sensitive creds, yeah no screw that. Host isn't fit for that kinda purpose, so its not much use to me, and no one agreed to the transfer

rpqu · December 2025

@HotaruBlaze said:

@rpqu said:

@Saragoldfarb said:

@rpqu said:

@HotaruBlaze said:
Honestly at this point, I'm leaning towards just trying to dispute via paypal

Here's an example of AI assisted dispute request with facts

@rpqu said:
Sigh, a hypothetical reasoning, for educational purpose

Chargeback Dispute Request - Exit Scam / Services Not Provided

Date: [Current Date - December 27, 2025 or later]
Cardholder Name: [Your Friend's Full Name]
Card Number: [Last 4 digits only - XXXX]
Transaction Date: [Date of Payment - likely late November 2025]
Transaction Amount: [Amount in GBP/USD/EUR]
Merchant Name: [UK Sole Trader's Legal Name] T/A [Trading Name/Brand Name]

Reason for Dispute: Services Not Provided / Merchant Fraud - Exit Scam

I am formally requesting a chargeback for the above transaction due to the merchant's premeditated exit scam and abandonment of contractual obligations.

Summary of Fraudulent Activity

I purchased [specify: VPS/dedicated server/shared hosting] services from [Merchant Name], a UK sole trader, on [transaction date]. I made a one-time prepayment of [amount] for a [2 or 3]-year service contract that was to run from [start date] through [end date - 2027 or 2028].

The merchant has disappeared after executing a clear exit scam, taking prepaid funds from multiple customers while abandoning all service obligations.

Timeline of Exit Scam

June 2025: The merchant began aggressive pricing campaigns on [forum name], offering deals significantly cheaper than competitors to attract customers into long-term prepaid contracts.

November 2025 (Black Friday): The merchant intensified the scheme with extremely aggressive 2-3 year deals at prices well below market rates, designed to maximize prepaid revenue before disappearing. I purchased my service during this period.

December 20, 2025: The merchant posted on Reddit seeking someone to "take over" the business, a common exit scam tactic.

December 23, 2025: Public disclosure on [forum name] revealed the merchant had disappeared with both:
- Customer prepayments for multi-year contracts
- Business transfer funds from a prospective buyer (US citizen)

December 24-26, 2025: Services are only running because the defrauded US buyer paid infrastructure bills out of pocket. I have no contract with this third party and no guarantee of continued service.

Evidence of Premeditated Fraud

Suspicious Business Practices: The merchant operated for nearly 4 years without proper UK business registration disclosure (legal name "ABC" was not displayed with trading name as required by UK Companies Act). This violation was only discovered 23 days before the merchant disappeared, suggesting awareness of impending legal scrutiny.

Predatory Pricing Pattern: From June through November 2025, the merchant systematically offered below-market pricing specifically to lock customers into long-term prepaid contracts, maximizing the value of the exit scam.

Multi-Year Prepayment Strategy: The merchant pushed 2-3 year contracts heavily during Black Friday 2025, collecting maximum prepayments immediately before disappearing.

Triangle Scam: The merchant solicited a business buyer, collected transfer funds from that buyer on December 23, 2025, then disappeared with both transfer payments and customer prepayments.

Complete Abandonment: The merchant has not responded to any communications since December 23, 2025, and has made no attempt to fulfill service obligations or issue refunds.

Multiple Victims: Numerous customers on [forum name] have reported being defrauded, with contract ages ranging from 6 months to just weeks old. All involve multi-year prepayments.

Material Breach of Contract

I paid for: [2 or 3] years of hosting services ([start date] to [end date])

I received: Approximately [X weeks/days] of service before merchant abandonment

Services owed but not provided: [Calculate: nearly the entire contract period - e.g., "approximately 35 months of the 36-month contract remain unfulfilled"]

Contract value unfulfilled: Approximately [calculate percentage - e.g., "97% of the contract value"]

Current Service Status Does Not Fulfill My Contract

While services are temporarily operational, this does NOT satisfy my contract because:

No Contractual Relationship: I have no agreement with the US citizen currently maintaining the infrastructure. My contract was exclusively with the UK sole trader who has abandoned obligations.

No Service Guarantees: The US citizen is acting as a "good Samaritan" and may discontinue services at any time. He has specifically mentioned seeking to discontinue "unfair" contracts.

Breach of Original Terms: My contract specified terms, service levels, and support from the UK trader. None of these are being honored.

Temporary Charity ≠ Contracted Service: Service continuation is at the discretion of a third party who has no obligation to me and has explicitly stated the arrangement is unsustainable.

Supporting Documentation

I have attached the following evidence:

Payment Proof: Invoice/receipt showing [amount] paid on [date] for [2-3] year contract

Contract Terms: Original service agreement and terms accepted at purchase

Exit Scam Evidence:

Screenshot of Reddit post dated December 20, 2025 (merchant seeking business buyer)

Screenshots of [forum name] posts from December 23, 2025 (disclosure of merchant disappearance with funds)

Forum discussions showing multiple victims with similar circumstances

Attempted Contact: Evidence of unanswered emails/messages to merchant (dates: [list dates])

Timeline Documentation: Evidence of aggressive pricing campaigns June-November 2025

Business Registration Issue: Documentation of the merchant's failure to properly display legal business name (discovered 23 days before disappearance)

Requested Resolution

I request a full chargeback or pro-rata of [amount] under the following reason codes:

Visa: Reason Code 30 (Services Not Provided or Not as Described)

Mastercard: Reason Code 4853 (Goods or Services Not Provided)

Alternative: Fraud classification given the clear exit scam pattern

Justification Summary

The merchant:

Engaged in a premeditated exit scam by offering aggressive multi-year deals specifically to maximize prepayments before disappearing

Breached contract by abandoning service obligations after collecting [2-3] years of prepayment

Failed to provide approximately [X%] of contracted services

Committed fraud by taking funds with no intention of fulfilling long-term obligations

Is completely unreachable and has made no attempt at refund or service continuation

Defrauded multiple customers in an identical pattern, demonstrating systematic fraud

This is not a dispute over service quality or minor issues - this is outright theft through a calculated exit scam.

I did not receive the services I paid for, the merchant has disappeared with prepaid funds, and I have no contractual protection for the remaining [X months/years] of service I purchased.

Cardholder Signature: ___________________________

Date: ___________________________

Contact Information:
Email: [email]
Phone: [phone]
Address: [address]

Please don't... Cut the AI crap.

Read it first before saying anything

Yeah no, i ain't touching that AI drivel when dealing with something that actually means something. AI is not and should never be used for legal advice.

I know if i was Paypal/Visa/Mastercard and saw that, I'd already be weary of it.

It's just a nicely structured message.
Well, I have written multiple QRD

@rpqu said:

@Jord said:
Morning, wtf have I missed here?

Disclaimer, some of this is heavily subjective. For educational purpose, not as legal record
Veloxmedia or Lewis Edwards T/A Veloxmedia has been selling in LET since summer
Pushing year-around heavily discounted prices
People bought the advertised triennial plan despite it's newly added host
It wasn't even the cheapest since DM dealing has even better rate
Fast forward, it's BF 2025
A user was disappointed over bundle package
Megathread squad & friends discover the entity isn't incorporated, but operated by sole trader. But, failed to conform to regulations
@beanman109 or someone else insists to add the sole trader name to the invoice
The troubled user got the refund
Fast forward to December 20 2025
Someone alerted that there's a thread on r/webhosting, a troubled webhosting with location in CA, PL, NL, ? is running 25% deficit, seeking someone who want to takeover
Veloxmedia account on LET has been silent since December 15
This thread got created before or after the tip
The so-called buyer, break the silence on 23rd December
Confirming Lewis Edwards has transferred the creds "keys to kingdom"
Somehow confirming that Lewis Edwards "are gone" with the contracts/money
itsover.gif
whmcs migration breaks stuff
Few pages later
Eric is shocked by the heavily discounted package which amount to 500
Repeatedly emphasis that he could've stopped the server
Few hours before and after midnight Dec 24 UTC, confirmed he paid few grands for bills
The infra is likely on monthly billing
Seeking to cut the "unsustainable contract"
Dec 24, 09.00 UTC change the veloxmedia.co.uk front-end

Saragoldfarb · December 2025

@rpqu said:

@Saragoldfarb said:

@rpqu said:

@HotaruBlaze said:
Honestly at this point, I'm leaning towards just trying to dispute via paypal

Here's an example of AI assisted dispute request with facts

@rpqu said:
Sigh, a hypothetical reasoning, for educational purpose

Chargeback Dispute Request - Exit Scam / Services Not Provided

Date: [Current Date - December 27, 2025 or later]
Cardholder Name: [Your Friend's Full Name]
Card Number: [Last 4 digits only - XXXX]
Transaction Date: [Date of Payment - likely late November 2025]
Transaction Amount: [Amount in GBP/USD/EUR]
Merchant Name: [UK Sole Trader's Legal Name] T/A [Trading Name/Brand Name]

Reason for Dispute: Services Not Provided / Merchant Fraud - Exit Scam

I am formally requesting a chargeback for the above transaction due to the merchant's premeditated exit scam and abandonment of contractual obligations.

Summary of Fraudulent Activity

I purchased [specify: VPS/dedicated server/shared hosting] services from [Merchant Name], a UK sole trader, on [transaction date]. I made a one-time prepayment of [amount] for a [2 or 3]-year service contract that was to run from [start date] through [end date - 2027 or 2028].

The merchant has disappeared after executing a clear exit scam, taking prepaid funds from multiple customers while abandoning all service obligations.

Timeline of Exit Scam

June 2025: The merchant began aggressive pricing campaigns on [forum name], offering deals significantly cheaper than competitors to attract customers into long-term prepaid contracts.

November 2025 (Black Friday): The merchant intensified the scheme with extremely aggressive 2-3 year deals at prices well below market rates, designed to maximize prepaid revenue before disappearing. I purchased my service during this period.

December 20, 2025: The merchant posted on Reddit seeking someone to "take over" the business, a common exit scam tactic.

December 23, 2025: Public disclosure on [forum name] revealed the merchant had disappeared with both:
- Customer prepayments for multi-year contracts
- Business transfer funds from a prospective buyer (US citizen)

December 24-26, 2025: Services are only running because the defrauded US buyer paid infrastructure bills out of pocket. I have no contract with this third party and no guarantee of continued service.

Evidence of Premeditated Fraud

Suspicious Business Practices: The merchant operated for nearly 4 years without proper UK business registration disclosure (legal name "ABC" was not displayed with trading name as required by UK Companies Act). This violation was only discovered 23 days before the merchant disappeared, suggesting awareness of impending legal scrutiny.

Predatory Pricing Pattern: From June through November 2025, the merchant systematically offered below-market pricing specifically to lock customers into long-term prepaid contracts, maximizing the value of the exit scam.

Multi-Year Prepayment Strategy: The merchant pushed 2-3 year contracts heavily during Black Friday 2025, collecting maximum prepayments immediately before disappearing.

Triangle Scam: The merchant solicited a business buyer, collected transfer funds from that buyer on December 23, 2025, then disappeared with both transfer payments and customer prepayments.

Complete Abandonment: The merchant has not responded to any communications since December 23, 2025, and has made no attempt to fulfill service obligations or issue refunds.

Multiple Victims: Numerous customers on [forum name] have reported being defrauded, with contract ages ranging from 6 months to just weeks old. All involve multi-year prepayments.

Material Breach of Contract

I paid for: [2 or 3] years of hosting services ([start date] to [end date])

I received: Approximately [X weeks/days] of service before merchant abandonment

Services owed but not provided: [Calculate: nearly the entire contract period - e.g., "approximately 35 months of the 36-month contract remain unfulfilled"]

Contract value unfulfilled: Approximately [calculate percentage - e.g., "97% of the contract value"]

Current Service Status Does Not Fulfill My Contract

While services are temporarily operational, this does NOT satisfy my contract because:

No Contractual Relationship: I have no agreement with the US citizen currently maintaining the infrastructure. My contract was exclusively with the UK sole trader who has abandoned obligations.

No Service Guarantees: The US citizen is acting as a "good Samaritan" and may discontinue services at any time. He has specifically mentioned seeking to discontinue "unfair" contracts.

Breach of Original Terms: My contract specified terms, service levels, and support from the UK trader. None of these are being honored.

Temporary Charity ≠ Contracted Service: Service continuation is at the discretion of a third party who has no obligation to me and has explicitly stated the arrangement is unsustainable.

Supporting Documentation

I have attached the following evidence:

Payment Proof: Invoice/receipt showing [amount] paid on [date] for [2-3] year contract

Contract Terms: Original service agreement and terms accepted at purchase

Exit Scam Evidence:

Screenshot of Reddit post dated December 20, 2025 (merchant seeking business buyer)

Screenshots of [forum name] posts from December 23, 2025 (disclosure of merchant disappearance with funds)

Forum discussions showing multiple victims with similar circumstances

Attempted Contact: Evidence of unanswered emails/messages to merchant (dates: [list dates])

Timeline Documentation: Evidence of aggressive pricing campaigns June-November 2025

Business Registration Issue: Documentation of the merchant's failure to properly display legal business name (discovered 23 days before disappearance)

Requested Resolution

I request a full chargeback or pro-rata of [amount] under the following reason codes:

Visa: Reason Code 30 (Services Not Provided or Not as Described)

Mastercard: Reason Code 4853 (Goods or Services Not Provided)

Alternative: Fraud classification given the clear exit scam pattern

Justification Summary

The merchant:

Engaged in a premeditated exit scam by offering aggressive multi-year deals specifically to maximize prepayments before disappearing

Breached contract by abandoning service obligations after collecting [2-3] years of prepayment

Failed to provide approximately [X%] of contracted services

Committed fraud by taking funds with no intention of fulfilling long-term obligations

Is completely unreachable and has made no attempt at refund or service continuation

Defrauded multiple customers in an identical pattern, demonstrating systematic fraud

This is not a dispute over service quality or minor issues - this is outright theft through a calculated exit scam.

I did not receive the services I paid for, the merchant has disappeared with prepaid funds, and I have no contractual protection for the remaining [X months/years] of service I purchased.

Cardholder Signature: ___________________________

Date: ___________________________

Contact Information:
Email: [email]
Phone: [phone]
Address: [address]

Please don't... Cut the AI crap.

Read it first before saying anything

I did then I'm like, it's full of shit.

Providing false info in a chargeback... Never a good idea.

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In this Discussion

Velox media under new management

Comments

Chargeback Dispute Request - Exit Scam / Services Not Provided

Reason for Dispute: Services Not Provided / Merchant Fraud - Exit Scam

Summary of Fraudulent Activity

Timeline of Exit Scam

Evidence of Premeditated Fraud

Material Breach of Contract

Current Service Status Does Not Fulfill My Contract

Supporting Documentation

Requested Resolution

Justification Summary

Chargeback Dispute Request - Exit Scam / Services Not Provided

Reason for Dispute: Services Not Provided / Merchant Fraud - Exit Scam

Summary of Fraudulent Activity

Timeline of Exit Scam

Evidence of Premeditated Fraud

Material Breach of Contract

Current Service Status Does Not Fulfill My Contract

Supporting Documentation

Requested Resolution

Justification Summary

Chargeback Dispute Request - Exit Scam / Services Not Provided

Reason for Dispute: Services Not Provided / Merchant Fraud - Exit Scam

Summary of Fraudulent Activity

Timeline of Exit Scam

Evidence of Premeditated Fraud

Material Breach of Contract

Current Service Status Does Not Fulfill My Contract

Supporting Documentation

Requested Resolution

Justification Summary

Chargeback Dispute Request - Exit Scam / Services Not Provided

Reason for Dispute: Services Not Provided / Merchant Fraud - Exit Scam

Summary of Fraudulent Activity

Timeline of Exit Scam

Evidence of Premeditated Fraud

Material Breach of Contract

Current Service Status Does Not Fulfill My Contract

Supporting Documentation

Requested Resolution

Justification Summary

Chargeback Dispute Request - Exit Scam / Services Not Provided

Reason for Dispute: Services Not Provided / Merchant Fraud - Exit Scam

Summary of Fraudulent Activity

Timeline of Exit Scam

Evidence of Premeditated Fraud

Material Breach of Contract

Current Service Status Does Not Fulfill My Contract

Supporting Documentation

Requested Resolution

Justification Summary

Chargeback Dispute Request - Exit Scam / Services Not Provided

Reason for Dispute: Services Not Provided / Merchant Fraud - Exit Scam

Summary of Fraudulent Activity

Timeline of Exit Scam

Evidence of Premeditated Fraud

Material Breach of Contract

Current Service Status Does Not Fulfill My Contract

Supporting Documentation

Requested Resolution

Justification Summary