Games @lemmy.world Queen HawlSera @lemm.ee 1y ago

I accidentally bought a game while my VPN was on

I bought Mega Man X Dive Offline, really hyped for it, but then when I double checked my VPN, I realized it was set for the Netherlands.... Not good, I thought I had it set for the US as per usual.

Now it still showed the price in USD, but now I'm paranoid, I put in a refund explaining the situation and promising I'd buy it with the VPN turned off this time..

How fucked am I?

35 comments

Its already too late.

Every relevant law enforcement and investigation agency from the fbi to interpol have been notified
- NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! I DON'T WANT TO GO TO JAIL!
  
  Texting from the inside. See you soon. I'll get you a burner from Buba.
  
  It's been 3h. I think they nabbed 'em
  
  This is your local sherif, and I demand $10000 paid in ITunes gift cards or else we will issue a warrant for your arrest.
Lmao dude it doesn't matter at all
Straight to jail. Do not pass go. Do not collect 200 dollars.
- Buying a game with VPN on? Believe it or not, jail.
  
  Federal “pound me in the ass” prison, actually
  
  You underpay for game? Believe it or not, jail. You overpay for game, also jail.
(assuming your home country is USA) You are allowed to purchase games from US websites while you travel. As long as the purchase is linked to your US payment method, with US residence address on the bill, it does not matter where I'm the world you connect from.

You might raise suspicion if you bought something via NL VPN, using Dutch credit card and address. Otherwise you are all good.
What's your concern? I've never heard any issues with purchasing anything on VPN. In fact, it's recommended to save money by getting around geo-pricing
- It is against the steam subscriber agreement to use a VPN. Particularly if you're using it to get around a region restricted game. Will they check and catch you? Probably not, but they can. It's definately not recommended though.
- Getting around geo-pricing is a bannable offense
Wut? Why would you be fucked? I buy games with my VPN on all the time
- Arent you not allowed to buy games if Steam thinks you're somewhere you aren't?
  
  You’re also not allowed to cross the street outside of a crosswalk
  
  The reason you set a steam shop location. If it's longer term it may be beneficial to change the region but usually you can let it be whereever you want.
  
  I've never heard of that. Pretty sure even if they cared about that for some reason, there would be nothing they could do about it. What are they gonna do, take you to court? They can't prove you weren't in the Netherlands.
I dont see any problem. Even without refund, what would be the worst case?

My guess: you need to play the game with vpn set to the netherlands? Not more, not less. Or is using vpn prohibitted where you life?
Does anyone know if its illegal for me to login to my friends account and buy the game for him because I live in a region that's cheaper?
Shouldn't make any difference.

35 comments