Q. I bought fake antispyware. How do I get my money back? Threat Level:

“Q. I bought Rogue Program X and now I can’t find any way of accessing this program. All the links that they gave me to click on just brings up a blank screen. I’ve even tried to find their support site and my computer tells me that there is no such site. I have contacted Rogue Program X for a refund but I have not heard back from them.

It’s tragic reading comments like these on 411-Spyware.com, because every person who pays for a fake antivirus or rogue anti-spyware program gives the makers more incentive to make more scam-ware. Fake antispyware is a scam, and there’s no full version of a fake antivirus, despite what all the pop ups you get hammered with say. All you’re doing is giving the scammers your money, and I’m sad to day there is very little chance you’ll get your money back.

Unfortunately these scams are run from foreign countries where the law is lax, so it’s unlikely that your countries law can help you.

The one action you can and must take as soon as possible is contacting your credit card company and bank to prevent the scammers from using your credit card for other purchases.

Other than that, unfortunately the best thing to do is cut your losses, learn from the experience, and tell others what happened so they won’t fall for the same scam. It’s hard being scammed, but you’ll end up going around in circles trying to get a refund and the scammers may use the opportunity to try get more money and information from you.

Have an idea on how to get your money back after buying a fake antivirus? Please leave a comment.