Kazaa for Mac - SCAM EXPOSED!

[Negro]

Beware of this company:

http://www.kazaa-file-sharing-downloads.com/kazaa-for-mac.htm

I got into a bit of an email fight with these guys last week. Their attitude is beyond belief, so much so that I felt I had to share them with the Mac community.

Below you'll find their my emails, and their replies in bold:


----- Original Message -----
From: "Lance Spring" <lancespring@wanadoo.nl>
To: <support@kazaa-file-sharing-downloads.com>
Sent: Thursday, March 27, 2003 10:36 AM
Subject: Mac Trial Version?

Hi

Just seen your product for the Mac platform. Do you offer a money-back
guarantee? Or do you have a trial version of this software?

I figure you'll have to have one or the other - it's always good to
know something works before you part cash for it, don't you agree? Let
me know

Regards

Lance

------------------------------------------------------------------------

On Thursday, March 29, 2003, at 10:37:43 -0500, Support wrote:

It is our most popular software.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Lance Spring
To: Support
Sent: Saturday, March 29, 2003 9:16 AM
Subject: Re: Mac Trial Version?

Well that's hardly much of an answer is it?

Ok, since you have no trial version or money-back guarantee it's impossible for me to know if the program is for me.

I'll put it this way.....For sharing files, music etc I use all of the programs below at one time or another - all these programs are free.

Limewire (www.limewire.com),
Direct Connect (www.neo-modus.com)
Myster (http://www.mysternetworks.com/)
Neo (http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~mthole/neo/index.html)
iSwipe (www.hillmanminx.com)
2Get (http://sourceforge.jp/projects/twoget/)

or

Aquisition (www.xlife.org)
Drumbeat (www.drumbeat.info)

...........which are not free but give you a trial version to see if it suits you etc.

What are the advantages of your application over what I currenly use?

Regards

Lance

------------------------------------------------------------------------

On Saturday, March 29, 2003, at 04:37 PM, Support wrote:

Knock yourself out.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Lance Spring
To: Support
Sent: Saturday, March 29, 2003 10:47 AM
Subject: Re: Mac Trial Version?

I will,

Thanks for your professionalism and friendly help. If that's your attitude then I certainly know enough about your program and your support (or lack of it).


------------------------------------------------------------------------

On Wednesday, April 2, 2003, at 21:01:14 -0500, Support wrote:

We have sold 10 million of them._ we don't really care if you buy it or not. We basically have you by the ass.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Lance Spring
To: Support
Sent: Wednesday, April 02, 2003 9:04 PM
Subject: Re: Mac Trial Version?

By the ass?!! Ha, ha - I've just downloaded a pirated copy you twat! Tested it out yesterday and to tell the truth it 'aint so great. Enjoy your sales 'cause frankly I don't give a toss either.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

On Wednesday, April 2, 2003, at 21:11:18 -0500, Support wrote:

We have the new version that just came out today. Which is a hundred times better._ the old one had bugs in you twat head.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Lance Spring
To: Support
Sent: Wednesday, April 02, 2003 9:18 PM
Subject: Re: Mac Trial Version?

A hundred times better?!? Christ, it must have started out really ****ty if you had to improve it that much! But hey 100x better garbage is STILL garbage in my book.
And anyway who the hell want's all that bundled spyware sneaking around their computer?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
On Wednesday, April 2, 2003, at 21:27:02 -0500, Support wrote:

Like we said._ the reason it is a pay software is that there is no adware or spyware in it to make money off of._ Only the PC version has that._ And it is a hundred times better._ It now connects to OpenFT which will replace all file sharing systems._ Normally, Kazaa or Morpheus has only about 100-200 thousand people actually sharing at any given time._ this one will have_ a million to a hundred million sharing._

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Lance Spring <lancespring@wanadoo.nl>
Date: don apr 3, 2003 04:59:01 Europe/Amsterdam
To: "Support" <support@kazaa-file-sharing-downloads.com>
Subject: Re: Mac Trial Version?

a) If you know anything about Mac users you'll know that we're more demanding and decerning than PC users - we're not likely to believe you don't have spyware just 'cause you say so.

b) Nothing can replace all file sharing systems!! The most developers like yourself can do is write software that encompasses the systems in use - and do it quick!!! 'cause if you don't someone else will and you'll get left behind - not us.

c) Mac users have 11 file-sharing apps running every server/sharer there is on systems running from P2P to OpenFT. I've got access to around 85% of every file, film, application, image or albumn that I could ever wish for - not bad considering Macs comprise only 5% of the total computer market.

d) There's a general opinion in the Mac community that it's somewhat contradictory to pay for an application whose main purpose is to pirate other software and avoid paying for music etc.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

So far I've not yet received a reply to my last mail above.

[iJon]

yeah they do sound like they are lying out their ass. that was pretty funny. they say only about 100-200 thousand are connected at a time, yet they say they have sold over 10 million copies, are there even 10 million mac users out there.

iJon

[howard]

i'm surprised you kept it up for that long, i wouldn't have wasted my time.

very strange replies

[Foxer]

If they've sold 10 million of them, you'd think someone here would have it.... Anyone.... Bueller.....

Also, it would mean that they've made $150 million from the venture. Not too shabby....

[janey]

Originally posted by iJon
yeah they do sound like they are lying out their ass. that was pretty funny. they say only about 100-200 thousand are connected at a time, yet they say they have sold over 10 million copies, are there even 10 million mac users out there.
even if there were 10 million mac users (i think there are more), i doubt people would actually pay to use this, ninety nine out of one hundred people would probably rather use Limewire, carracho and the other programs out there...

[pmcaleer]

Domain names with excessive hyphens in them (sofas-and-other-items-mac-junk.com) are generally scams. The one you linked to, and conversed with, was just looking for hits from Google and bucks from neophytes - nothing more.

[bousozoku]

I think there are something like 25 million Mac users worldwide. With all the different forums I frequent, I've never heard anyone mention their software. Of course, that only leaves about 24,998,000 people. :D

It sounds as though they did their software support training in 8th grade. I wonder if their competition would like to get hold of those e-mails. ;)

[shadowfax]

what a funny interchange. it's almost like some of the threads around here ;) tsk, tsk. definitely scammacious.

[mac15]

hmm, it looks like someone-got-played-like-an-idiot-hahaha.com

[jeremy.king]

What I enjoyed, now that you pointed it out.

"They" have sold over 10,000,000 copies at $14.95 each, huh?

so "they" have taken in roughly $150 million. Pretty good for a software company.

Wondering why I qoute "They"

Read the FAQ on the website. http://www.kazaa-file-sharing-downloads.com/kazaaFAQ.htm . All the references by this so-called company are in first person. You see a lot of "I" and "Me" in there.

Its just some scam artist out there trying to make a quick buck. I love how he says they can connect to Napster, cause everyone is using that nowadays!

Seems this guy is-an-idiot-and-doesn't-even-know-how-to-scam.com

LOL, thanks for the laugh :)

[alexlai5050]

yea can anyone tell me what other mac forums there are out there
i seem to get board reading the same stuff over and over again
thanks

[GigaWire]

He's sort of like this creepy 30+ guy that lives in his mother's basement.

Registrant:
Kazaa File Sharing Downloads
17 bordeaux lane
Cleveland, Ohio 44122
United States

Registered through: Go Daddy Software (http://www.godaddy.com)
Domain Name: KAZAA-FILE-SHARING-DOWNLOADS.COM
Created on: 13-Nov-01
Expires on: 13-Nov-06
Last Updated on: 01-Apr-03

Administrative Contact:
Henry, Rich leksol@hotmail.com
Kazaa File Sharing Downloads
17 bordeaux lane
Cleveland, Ohio 44122
United States
+1.2165141218 Fax --
Technical Contact:
Henry, Rich leksol@hotmail.com
Kazaa File Sharing Downloads
17 bordeaux lane
Cleveland, Ohio 44122
United States
+1.2165141218 Fax --

Domain servers in listed order:
NS1.LIGHTHOST.COM
NS2.LIGHTHOST.COM

[jermsmingy]

I hate to admit it, but I bought this probably 8 months or so ago. It was a piece of crap. I don't think that I ever got one thing to download. I could search for the same thing on acquisition and get more results than this stupid program.

I am not one to sue, but now that I know that they have sold 10 million copies and have 150 million I might try to get damages plus mental anguish. That's got to be worth at least $3,000, right?

[Kwyjibo]

Originally posted by jermsmingy
That's got to be worth at least $3,000, right?
1) its america your anguish is worth much more than that.
2) if he's sold millioins like he claims then he desreves to be cleaned out by a lawsuit.

[GeneR]

I really dislike these scams that prey on other people. :mad:

[MrMacMan]

Originally posted by iJon
yeah they do sound like they are lying out their ass. that was pretty funny. they say only about 100-200 thousand are connected at a time, yet they say they have sold over 10 million copies, are there even 10 million mac users out there.

iJon

Yes I remember that Mac OS X has just over 10 Million users.

Totally there are alot of older macs not with Os X.

Wow, does anyone acually have that software?

I hope not. If you do, I'd like to look at it.

BTW, you forgot 'GiftBox' From sourceforge. :D (That is another P2P)

[icetraxxg5]

Originally posted by MrMacman
Yes I remember that Mac OS X has just over 10 Million users.

Totally there are alot of older macs not with Os X.

Wow, does anyone acually have that software?

I hope not. If you do, I'd like to look at it.

BTW, you forgot 'GiftBox' From sourceforge. :D (That is another P2P)

This software IS just an old version of iSwipe with a name change and a different about box. I'll email you the program if you are curious.

[pcuserx]

Limewire is an effective replacement for Kazaa. Its free too. Only problem is how slow it is. You have to close every single program to be able to run it effectivly. But maybe I just need more ram.

[Hemingray]

I just got one question for you: what were you THINKIN', dude? :eek: Anyone with a web site like that is highly questionable in my opinion.

[MrMacMan]

Originally posted by pcuserx
Limewire is an effective replacement for Kazaa. Its free too. Only problem is how slow it is. You have to close every single program to be able to run it effectivly. But maybe I just need more ram.

Limewire is NOT an option.

limewire is slow and built on a CRAPPY network.

All of Gnutella is trash.

[jermsmingy]

There was a link from the real kazaa to this page. When I first saw the page, my gut instinct told me it was a scam, but I think I was looking at kazaa.com and they had a link to this program, so I guess I figured it was legit. I really do wonder how many people have bought it.

On another note, acquisition is the best that I have found. Limewire is horrible.

[bennetsaysargh]

Originally posted by bousozoku
It sounds as though they did their software support training in 8th grade. I wonder if their competition would like to get hold of those e-mails. ;)

im in 8th grade and i can have better support than that.

edit-forgot to say that limewire is the biggest piece of crap ever and aquisition is way way better!

[spav]

Originally posted by GigaWire
He's sort of like this creepy 30+ guy that lives in his mother's basement.

Registrant:
Kazaa File Sharing Downloads
17 bordeaux lane
Cleveland, Ohio 44122
United States



hmm...that's not far from me...I should go check it out sometime. I'll report back soon.

EDIT: Just checked...it's in one of our more upscale neighboorhoods...right next to Cleveland's most expensive mall.

[bennetsaysargh]

Originally posted by spav
Just checked...it's in one of our more upscale neighboorhoods...right next to Cleveland's most expensive mall.

probably feeding off of someone else's bandwidth.

[dornball]

report them to Better Business Bureau.

http://complaints.bbb.org/Welcome.asp

-dornball

[MrMacMan]

Originally posted by dornball
report them to Better Business Bureau.

http://complaints.bbb.org/Welcome.asp

-dornball

can anyone make a script? :D

if yes, nice
if no, urg, I'll fill it out... *sigh*

[OSXrocks]

Isn't this the same **** as iSwipe????

[MrMacMan]

Originally posted by OSXrocks
Isn't this the same **** as iSwipe????

yes an older version.

They iSwipe guy said he couldn't do anything about it tho.

[Gus]

Did you look at his FAQ page?

Some highlights:

What OS is it tested under?

The only tested configurations are the PPC version under MacOS 9.1, and the carbon version under OSX 10.2.

If you have problems using the Carbon version under MacOS 9, use the PPC version.

If you have problems using the PPC version under MacOS 9, use the Carbon version. If you can't use either - sorry, I can't help you._

Why did you go to a single window interface - I preferred multiple windows!
Many people have been requesting a single window interface for a long time. I thought it would make the program easier to use. Having done it, I prefer the result. Sorry if you don't.

Those are some great responses and instill me with confidence in the product as a consumer. What a dolt.

Regards,
Gus