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When a seller disappears, the people who lose most are the ones who bought the longest plan. These are the warning signs, in rough order of how often we see them.
Which offers should you avoid?
- “Lifetime” or two-year plans. Nobody can sell you a server for life. These plans exist to collect as much as possible before the service is shut down.
- Prices with a line through them. “£109.99, now £49.99” is a classic. If the higher price was never charged, the comparison is misleading under UK consumer law.
- “100% legal and certified”. There is no certificate. Ask whose licence it is.
- Reviews with first names and towns. “Sarah K., Manchester” with a stock photo proves nothing. Since 6 April 2025 posting or commissioning fake reviews has been banned under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024.
- “99.9% uptime”. Nobody measures this for you. It is a number chosen because it sounds technical.
How do scammers take payment?
They ask for methods you cannot reverse: a bank transfer to a personal account, gift cards, or crypto only. A seller who will not take a card or PayPal, at least for the first month, is asking you to carry all the risk.
What does a fake trial look like?
A real trial gives you a working log-in quickly, with no card. A fake one asks for card details “to verify”, then charges a full year, or sends you to an app you have to sideload from an unknown link.
What should you check before paying anyone?
| Check | What a good answer looks like |
|---|---|
| Who runs it? | A registered company name and Companies House number on the site |
| Where can I complain? | A UK address and an email that replies |
| Can I try it? | A free trial with no card |
| What if it stops working? | A written refund promise with a deadline |
| How do I pay? | Card or PayPal, so chargeback is possible |
| What are the channels? | A written answer on where they come from |
Where do you report a scam?
Report fraud to Action Fraud (actionfraud.police.uk, or 0300 123 2040), and tell your bank straight away. If the seller used a fake review or a fake price, you can also report it to Trading Standards through Citizens Advice.
Readers also ask
Can I recover money paid to an IPTV seller?
Are IPTV reviews on Trustpilot reliable?
Is a 'lifetime' IPTV subscription real?
Sources
- GOV.UK: Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024, fake reviews guidance checked 6 October 2026
- Citizens Advice: Getting your money back if you paid by card or PayPal checked 6 October 2026
- Action Fraud: report fraud and cyber crime checked 6 October 2026