If the price of software advertised on local web sites seems too good to be true, it probably is.<\/p>\n
This is the message from Microsoft SA<\/a>, which has warned of a boom in fake software being sold online to unwitting consumers.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are many online sellers who have been caught selling counterfeit Microsoft software over the past year but, while it\u2019s still a strong drive for Microsoft anti-piracy, this is becoming about more than just stopping crooks in their tracks,\u201d said Microsoft\u2019s small and mid-sized business and partner lead Mark Reynolds<\/a>.<\/p>\n Reynolds said that counterfeit products don\u2019t work as advertised and unsuspecting consumers are at risk of downloading or buying non-genuine software that can expose them to spyware, malware and viruses that can lead to identity theft, loss of data, and system failures.<\/p>\n \u201cbidorbuy (www.bidorbuy.co.za) is the only site of its kind in South Africa that is proactively trying to protect their customers by collaborating with Microsoft to stop the sale of these counterfeit products,\u201d Reynolds said.<\/p>\n Over the past year, Microsoft has identified 18 sellers of counterfeit Windows, Office, Visio and Project software packages on biborbuy. The company made undercover test purchases acting on information received from victims or bidorbuy and took appropriate enforcement action against the online traders.<\/p>\n Operations manager at bidorbuy, Cuan Akal<\/a>, said the company appreciates the challenges faced by companies like Microsoft and the dangers presented to consumers who might unknowingly be purchasing counterfeit software through sites like www.bidorbuy.co.za.<\/p>\n \u201cbidorbuy, like other similar sites, serves mainly as a platform for people to sell their wares but that does not mean we condone, encourage or tolerate the listing of counterfeit software,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Akal said bidorbuy\u2019s monitoring team will flag any suspicious sales items found in these \u2018high risk\u2019 categories \u2013 like software – based on a range of criteria, including price and the location of the seller. Once flagged, the seller\u2019s items are immediately removed from the site.<\/p>\n \u201cThe seller is then contacted and authenticity documentation is requested. In instances where authentication is provided, the seller\u2019s items are reloaded and business continues as normal and, in cases where it is not, bidorbuy will blacklist that user from selling through the site and pass their information on to Microsoft,\u201d Akal said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe counterfeit software we are seeing in South Africa is primarily supplied through organised crime syndicates based in China,\u201d said Dale Waterman<\/a>, Microsoft\u2019s corporate attorney for anti-piracy for the Middle East and Africa.<\/p>\n Waterman said that these syndicates reach out to local South African resellers using websites and spam, offering them discounted software.<\/p>\n \u201cCriminal syndicates are therefore directly profiting from the sale of counterfeit software and consumers should be aware those proceeds are often fed back into crimes like drug running, money laundering and other nefarious crimes,\u201d Waterman said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s an on-going battle,\u201d said Reynolds. \u201cMicrosoft appreciates the efforts made by companies like bidorbuy, especially when you consider how difficult it is for an average consumer to distinguish between fake and authentic software.\u201d<\/p>\n According to Reynolds most of the packages look legitimate, include fake hologram CDs and certificates of authenticity, are shrink-wrapped and contain all the relevant logos and branding.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s only after the software is installed that the fake rears its ugly head.\u201d<\/p>\nbidorbuy monitors \u201chigh risk\u201d categories<\/h3>\n
Counterfeits supplied by syndicates in China<\/h3>\n
On-going battle<\/h3>\n