Free Trials, Proxy Bots, Stolen Cards: How Token Resellers Get Their Discounts
A market has grown, mostly in China, around reselling discounted LLM API access by pooling API keys obtained through abused free trials, proxied support bots, or stolen payment credentials.
What it is
An investigation by Matt Lenhard, covered by Simon Willison, into the relay market that resells LLM tokens at steep discounts by pooling API keys from various sources.
What it does
The resellers operate LLM proxies offering significant discounts on regular API pricing, achieved by abusing free trials, routing through unprotected support bots, or using stolen credit cards to obtain keys.
Why it matters
If you or your org rely on cheap third-party LLM proxies to cut costs, you may unknowingly be running on stolen infrastructure, with the associated legal and supply-chain risk that entails.
How to use it
Treat unusually cheap third-party LLM API proxies as a red flag rather than a bargain, since the discount often comes from abused trials or stolen credentials rather than legitimate volume pricing.
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