You play by the rules. Why risk using software that may be unsupported, unreliable, and perhaps illegal? Here are some tips on what to do if you discover you've purchased illegal software and the risks of purchasing pirated software on the Internet.

What to do if you think you’ve purchased pirated software

1. Contact the seller and demand a full refund or ask for a legitimate replacement product or verification that the product you purchased is legal.
2. If the vendor refuses to give you a refund or replacement product, report these actions to your local Consumer Affairs Office.
3. If you purchased from an online auction site, contact the auction or reseller site and file a complaint.
4. Contact the FileMaker Anti-Piracy department at piracy@filemaker.com.
5. In Australia contact the Business Software Alliance Australia (BSAA) on 1800 021 143 or go www.bsaa.com.au

The risks of purchasing software on the Internet

Quality

• Your software may not function correctly or may fail completely.
• Your software may actually be an outdated version, a beta (test) version, or a nonfunctioning copy.

Support

• You may not have access to customer support, upgrades, technical documentation, training, and bug fixes.
• You may have no warranty to protect you.

Viruses

• You increase your risk of exposure to a debilitating virus that can destroy valuable data.

Penalties

• You may be subject to significant fines for copyright infringement.
• You may experience potential public and private embarrassment, and in the case of an organization, negative publicity that could cause irreparable harm to your business.
• You may lose your money without receiving a refund.

Fraud

• You expose yourself to credit card fraud, as many software scams are also a front for credit card scams.