BSA Launches Internet Fraud Reporting Website
Consumers Encouraged to Detail Software Scams
Washington, D.C., (June 7, 2006) –The Business Software Alliance (BSA), a watchdog group representing the nation’s leading software manufacturers, today launched an Internet fraud reporting website, www.bsacybersafety.com/fraud. The website is designed to raise awareness about online fraud while encouraging individuals to submit their own stories of how they were “duped” into purchasing pirated software online.
Last year alone, BSA shut down more than 16,000 auctions offering pirated and counterfeit products, most of which were on eBay. Unfortunately, some eBay sellers post ads offering what they claim to be legitimate software, but actually provide the customer with pirated copies once the transaction is complete.
“The sale of pirated software greatly harms consumers and the legitimate market, costing billions of dollars each year,” said Neil MacBride, BSA’s Vice President of Legal Affairs. “We encourage consumers to be aware of the risks involved with buying software online, and hope that this new website provides a forum for consumers to tell stories on how they were ‘duped’ into purchasing pirated software in the hopes that others won’t fall into the same trap.”
The Council of Better Business Bureaus (CBBB) and International AntiCounterfeiting Coalition (IACC) are supporting the BSA in their efforts.
“It can be very hard for consumers to avoid fakes and fraud online,” said CBBB’s Steve Salter, Vice President, BBBOnLine. “Being able to share and compare experiences should only make for better online shoppers, and ultimately make the web a better place to shop. We are happy to support the Business Software Alliance in reaching this goal."
“Consumers deserve the same assurances of quality from online retailers that they’ve come to expect from brick and mortar stores,” adds IACC President, Nils Montan. “Online sellers touting fake products as genuine do a disservice to their customers, and to legitimate businesses. This new initiative is a positive step in the fight against consumer fraud.”
The new Internet fraud reporting website is part of BSA’s overall efforts to help consumers and businesses protect themselves from online fraud and other risks. The website, www.bsacybersafety.com, provides useful information to educate consumers and businesses about illegal, fraudulent schemes and how to avoid them.
Tips for a Safe Online Shopping Experience
BSA encourages online consumers to take the necessary precautions to avoid being misled by online pirates and offers online shoppers the following 10 helpful tips on how to ensure they are purchasing legal products:
- Trust Your Instincts. Check the online seller’s price against the estimated retail value of the software. Whether it is being sold as new or used, if a price for software seems too good to be true, it probably is.
- Make Sure it’s Authentic. Be suspicious of software products that do not include proof of authenticity such as original disks, manuals, licensing, service policies, warranties, etc.
- Read the Label. Beware of products that do not look genuine such as those with hand-written labels.
- Beware of Back-Ups. Take special care to avoid sellers offering to make “back-up” copies. This is a clear indication that the software is illegal.
- Steer Clear of Compilations. Be wary of compilations of software titles from different publishers on a single disk or CD.
- Look for a “trust mark” from a reputable organization, like BBBOnLine, to make sure the online retailer is reliable and has a proven track record of satisfying customers. If in doubt, conduct Web searches about the site in order to determine its legitimacy and check for a BBB report at www.bbb.org.
- Do Your Homework. Check the feedback section on the auction site to find comments about the seller, based on previous transactions.
- Get the Seller’s Address, if Possible. Remember that if you cannot re-contact the seller, you may have no recourse if the product turns out to be pirated.
- Keep Receipts. Print out a copy of your order number and sales confirmation and keep them at least until you have verified that the software is indeed legal.
- Be Careful When Crossing the Border. Be especially cautious when dealing with software sellers in other countries. The physical distance, differences in legal systems and other factors could complicate matters if the transaction goes awry.
An independent study* shows that 21 percent of software in the United States is unlicensed. In 2005, the U.S. lost $6.9 billion as a result of software piracy.
*Global Software Piracy Study, conducted by IDC for the Business Software Alliance, May 2006.
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About BSA
The Business Software Alliance (www.bsa.org) is the foremost organization dedicated to promoting a safe and legal digital world. BSA is the voice of the world’s commercial software industry and its hardware partners before governments and in the international marketplace. Its members represent one of the fastest growing industries in the world. BSA programs foster technology innovation through education and policy initiatives that promote copyright protection, cyber security, trade and e-commerce. BSA members include Adobe, Apple, Autodesk, Avid, Bentley Systems, Borland, CNC Software/Mastercam, Internet Security Systems, McAfee, Microsoft, PTC, SolidWorks, Sybase, Symantec, The MathWorks and UGS.
Contact Information
Anne Petraeus
202-530-5120
anne.petraeus@dittus.com
