I purchased Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign 2026 software that was advertised as legitimate.I received an invoice, product keys, and links to the installation files.It turned out that none of the products were legitimate versions.I initiated a chargeback with my bank, but the seller’s bank rejected the claim, stating that they did not consider it justified. My bank advised me to obtain stronger evidence.For example:A response from Adobe Customer Support The results of an Adobe license verification An email from Adobe confirming that: the product key is not genuine, the license is unauthorized, the software is not intended for official Adobe use, the key has been revoked or blocked. Additionally:An Adobe Support chat transcript An Adobe Customer Support ticket The results of an Adobe technical investigationIn addition to the above, screenshots showing errors related to the license.For example:“License invalid” “Authentication failed” “Non-genuine Adobe software” “License revoked”or similar error messages.If the software actually indicates that it is not genuine, this would constitute direct evidence.Where can I obtain such reliable evidence?I cannot find an email address, and the virtual assistant does not understand what I am trying to ask for.

the seller’s bank rejected the claim, stating that they did not consider it justified.==========Of course they did. I’ll bet it was sold at cheaper than chips prices and you thought you scored a great deal.Some deal, huh?Scrub your computer for trojans & viruses. Fake products are frequently infected with malware that can compromise you & your computer.Also ask the bank to cancel that card & issue a new one. If the sellers have your payment card info, there’s no telling where this theft will end.Next time, buy directly from Adobe.

Biro_Laszlo7455

Inspiring

Answered

Verification of the legitimacy of a software license key

Forum|Forum|3 days ago
September 2, 2026
16 replies
71 views

I purchased Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign 2026 software that was advertised as legitimate.

I received an invoice, product keys, and links to the installation files.

It turned out that none of the products were legitimate versions.

I initiated a chargeback with my bank, but the seller’s bank rejected the claim, stating that they did not consider it justified.

My bank advised me to obtain stronger evidence.

For example:

A response from Adobe Customer Support
The results of an Adobe license verification
An email from Adobe confirming that:
- the product key is not genuine,
- the license is unauthorized,
- the software is not intended for official Adobe use,
- the key has been revoked or blocked.

Additionally:

An Adobe Support chat transcript
An Adobe Customer Support ticket
The results of an Adobe technical investigation

In addition to the above, screenshots showing errors related to the license.

For example:

“License invalid”
“Authentication failed”
“Non-genuine Adobe software”
“License revoked”

or similar error messages.

If the software actually indicates that it is not genuine, this would constitute direct evidence.

Where can I obtain such reliable evidence?

I cannot find an email address, and the virtual assistant does not understand what I am trying to ask for.

Correct answer Biro_Laszlo7455

@Manan Joshi

If I understood correctly, I was able to speak to a real person via the chat, and they will send me Adobe’s official statement by email regarding the legality of the software.

Nancy OShea

Community Expert

the seller’s bank rejected the claim, stating that they did not consider it justified.

==========

Of course they did. I’ll bet it was sold at cheaper than chips prices and you thought you scored a great deal. Some deal, huh?

Scrub your computer for trojans & viruses. Fake products are frequently infected with malware that can compromise you & your computer.
Also ask the bank to cancel that card & issue a new one. If the sellers have your payment card info, there’s no telling where this theft will end.

Next time, buy directly from Adobe.

Nancy O'Shea— Product User & Community Expert

Peru Bob

Community Expert

Make a copy of your other discussion, as mentioned by @leo.r :

https://community.adobe.com/questions%2D712/photoshop%2D27%2D0%2D0%2Dcloses%2Ditself%2Devery%2D10%2Dminutes%2D1635106?postid=7722541#post7722541

and show that to your bank.

kglad

Community Expert

use https://www.adobe.com/trust/fraud-prevention.html to report the fraud.

and see, https://helpx.adobe.com/genuine/faq.html#sa_src=web-messaging

leo.r

Community Expert

In addition to what @Manan Joshi has already said...

@Biro_Laszlo7455 It turned out that none of the products were legitimate versions.

First, I see that you already discussed this in detail recently:

You’ve been given some important info there already.

You also mentioned that the software was advertised as a “legitimate lifetime license”, while such a thing doesn’t exist for the Creative Cloud software you got. I don’t know if screenshots from that website in combination with replies you received here can be considered as “stronger evidence” by your bank. But it might as well can.

Maybe you can also have an online chat with Adobe support, to discuss this software, then submit the chat transcript where Adobe rep explains that there are no “legitimate lifetime licenses” for Creative Cloud software.

And how did you install it? Did you use an Adobe account? If not, then Adobe support will also tell you that the software is not legitimate, which will be reflected in the transcript.

leo.r

Community Expert

p.s. indeed, obtaining documented indisputable proof that some software is certifiably and genuinely illegitimate may prove to be harder than doing the opposite.

M

Manan Joshi

Community Expert

Adobe does not sell product keys for these apps since years now. The only option is to subscribe to them. Which means there is no key. Where did you buy these keys from? It looks like you were duped

-Manan

Biro_Laszlo7455Author

Inspiring

I already know that I was scammed; that is not the question.

I want to get my money back, but the bank requires official evidence, and I don’t know who I can obtain it from.

kglad

Community Expert

for proof, send a copy of the screenshot saying invalid serial number

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