The number of websites offering illegal pirated software for sales numbers in the millions. As consumers it is easy to be mislead by these websites. We often think we are purchasing the real thing when in reality the products being offered are copies. It is also common to make a purchase on one of these illegitimate sites and then never receive the product, or any kind of refund.

In order to keep from getting fooled by one of these sites, there are a few things you can do. With just a few steps and an awareness of the problem you can be a safer internet shopper.

• Know that not everyone is honest. There are millions of people trying to sell counterfeit software all over the internet. Look at everything with a critical eye and don’t accept any website at face value.
• Get complete company information before you make a purchase. This means a complete address including a street address, phone numbers, and a full business name. If they are unwilling to give this information they are probably not legitimate.
• Find out about their return policy along with their service policies and their warranty policy.
• Check into the price of the software you are purchasing. If a website is offering a price that is extremely lower than the average price, then it is probably not a legitimate copy.
• Be wary of special deals, liquidation sales, or strange aquisition sales. Scammers often use these types of marketing schemes that draw consumers in and then sell them an illegitimate product.
• Know what you are buying. The more you know about the product the better off you are. Read reviews about the software and about the selling your are considering buying from.
• If there is any doubt, contact the software company itself. You should be able to find information about the developer of the software. If you contact them you can find out what is legitimate and what is not.