A different scam

ellenGB

I asked an IT consultant whom I had used before to check out my new refurbished laptop and advise on security. He recommended three programmes, which he offered to install, including two paid for versions, which he said were better. He installed either from his CD or a USB stick. He showed me how they worked. I asked for receipt. I also asked what I had to do if something went wrong and I had to reinstall. He told me to call him and he'd sort it. Second time I used them, two programmes could not download. Needed to reinstall. Phoned consultant who referred me to 'his' website which turns out to be well known site for free software. I'd been had. Checking, I found my programmes were also free versions. And very out of date.

This is a new scam on me. Beware. Yes, I do feel stupid. I lost only £60 but...

penrhyn

There are always predators who will prey on the vulnerable and uninformed.
If you tell us what you have installed the folks here will only be too happy to advise you, for free!

Biggles

You paid for advice, consultants are never free (even if their software is!).

fiddiwebb

What are the programmes he installed?

fiddiwebb

Biggles wrote: »

You paid for advice, consultants are never free (even if their software is!).

True, consultant would require paying for advice unless he said it was free from the start but then OP apparently has paid for two security programmes but got the free versions.

He recommended three programmes, which he offered to install, including two paid for versions

gonzo127

i wonder if it was 'clever' wording by the 'consultant' making it sound like paid for programs and what he was meaning is paying him to install them.

John_Gray

To be fair, many programs have free versions with limited features, and paid-for versions which are usually more extensive. Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware is an example.

Are you sure you really have the 'free' versions?

fiddiwebb

John_Gray wrote: »

To be fair, many programs have free versions with limited features, and paid-for versions which are usually more extensive. Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware is an example.

Are you sure you really have the 'free' versions?

That's what I'm beginning to wonder.

Either we are not getting the full story or there is some confusion, I think the £60 was for the advice and time.

Russel245

A lot of computer consultants and smaller shops basically rely on exploiting non techie people. I tend to avoid face to face encounters when it comes to computer advice.

Forums are your best friend for it since if somebody says something wrong, most of the time there are enough other people to point out why they're wrong.

As for software that "speeds up" your computer, I have little to no faith in any of it. I run as small a number of programs on my pc in the background as possible; loading lots of things just kills startup.



As a side note, I just put their in where it should have been they're (I noticed and changed it, but still) and I'm a bit upset with myself.