Is this offer of TurboTax 2018 for Mac and Windows for $33 USD pirated? https://store.econosof.com/index.php/software/turbotax/turbotax-deluxe-2018

[DoninGA · Accepted solution]

That is not a TurboTax re-seller so it most likely is pirated software.  Probably has virus or malware.  Or at the very least they get your credit card and personal information to sell to identity thieves.

[jerrykrinock]

Thank you, Donin.  I agree it's probably pirated, but the site looks 80% authentic and legitimate, they say they are in California (Pleasanton if I recall correctly), and I was actually led to this from an ad which appeared on BestBuy's site, when I was contemplating buying from BestBuy.  Could someone from Intuit please confirm that this is pirated, and if so take these guys down so I would feel better about paying $70?

[DoninGA]

Will post a note to the TurboTax Moderators for them to check out.

[macuser_22]

They could be anywhere in the world using a  CLOUDFLARENET server.  Anybody can get a web account there.

[jerrykrinock]

Their "about" page is pretty interesting.  Look at the photo of the women in the cubicles for a few minutes, asking "What is wrong with this picture?", and you'll see what I mean by "80% authentic" :)) <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://store.econosof.com/index.php/about-us">https://store.econosof.com/index.php/about-us</a>

[macuser_22]

Also 4695 Chabot Dr #330 Pleasanton, CA 94588 is not a real address, it is a "Virtual Address" which should make you wonder....

<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.davincivirtual.com/loc/us/california/pleasanton-virtual-offices/facility-1270">https://w...>

More than likely the real address is in China.

[macuser_22]

"What is wrong with this picture?" Virtual workers in the Virtual office????

[jerrykrinock]

$75.00 per month rent!  Nice find by macuser_22.   You can imagine how a consumer who was flipping through the web page, looking at that photo of the women for 5 seconds would say, "Hmmmm, it looks legit".  But then you begin to notice (1) No writing on any of the papers, folders or packages  (2) Woman in foreground cubicle is looking at a totally black computer screen  (3) Her computer display stand looks more like a bookend – totally rectangular  (4) The liquid in the coffee mug appears to be blue  (5) A stack of CD-ROMs, in year 2019, eeek!  (5)  Woman in the next cubicle looks like a cardboard cutout – perspective is wrong  (6) The four cubicles on the right appear to be totally empty.

[DoninGA]

Yep...Not legit from the Moderators.

[Opus 17]

Not an authorized reseller.
The problem with Best Buy's web site (and Amazon and Walmart also have this problem) is that they allow third party sellers to list on their site in return for a commission.  Apparently, they don't vet these sellers or don't care. You will sometimes see sellers on Amazon or Walmart's web site also offering counterfeit merchandise.