Reporting / validating suspicious resellers

Forum|Forum|7 years ago
June 6, 2019
2 replies
31 views

Where do I report a suspicious reseller or validate that they are legitimate?

Searching Google for TurboTax Deluxe 2017 (https://www.google.com/search?q=turbotax+deluxe+2017&tbm=shop) brings up a vendor ($28.00 from eCrater - wagykatherine, https://www.ecrater.com/p/29149657/turbotax-deluxe-for-tax-year-2017-federal). When ordered from the vendor, a download link to a file sharing website was provided. Link was like https://www.mediafire.com/file/.../TurboTax_Deluxe_2017_MAC-1.zip. I intentionally gave only part of the link.

Another vendor that comes up on Google is https://store.taxprosdeal.com/. Where do I verify these vendors who prominently distribute TurboTax software, but some are supposedly not authorized?

TurboTax Deluxe Mac

Best answer by Opus 17

If it's not a major brand name, or the price is lower than Costco, it's probably not authorized. (Costco sells below wholesale cost because they make their profit on the membership fee. Anyone selling lower than Costco is almost definitely a bogus reseller and you are getting pirated software, or software with malware, or they will just take your money and run.)

Unfortunately there is no published list, but places like Amazon. Staples, Target, Walmart, Costco, OfficeMax, Best Buy. For online computer sellers, I think NewEgg and OWC are authorized.

I'll report this post to the moderators for investigation by security. Unfortunately, top google hits are paid for, and it's hard to stop them.

Opus 17

Answer

Level 15

Unfortunately there is no published list, but places like Amazon. Staples, Target, Walmart, Costco, OfficeMax, Best Buy. For online computer sellers, I think NewEgg and OWC are authorized.

I'll report this post to the moderators for investigation by security. Unfortunately, top google hits are paid for, and it's hard to stop them.

Opus 17

Level 15

Traceroute shows one of those vendors is using a server farm in Sweden, that does not inspire confidence. And ecrater is like eBay, anyone can open an account and sell anything.

Toadlips72

Level 2

I just purchased from [URL removed]

I became suspicious when I saw the name of the vendor on the receipt was a vietnamese name rather than Intuit, etc...

I paid via PayPal, so I do not believe my payment details were disclosed. I ran the installer through an online virus scanner and it did find a Trojan dropper.

The interesting thing is that I paid for and downloaded an official version from Amazon as well. The file sizes were different, but the Amazon file also indicated a Trojan dropper with the online virus scanner.

I would like to confirm whether or not the original site I downloaded from is an official reseller. I have already filed a dispute with PayPal.

Critter

Level 15

You have to be very careful with anything at Amazon ... they do support resellers and don't screen them carefully. At least with them you have the ability to return the item and get your money back ... not so with many other fly by night scammers.