Completely agree with the author, as I experienced exactly the same problems and the same level of "customer support" which is nothing more than a deterrent to delay the complaints. Unfortunately PayPal has a policy not to refund for intangible goods, so beware!
Obviously Retinax is well aware of this. They promised to investigate and refund - but as this is a scam - don't get your hopes up
Phonesheriff is asoftware that purports to give you access to an iphone or Android phone and you can see all activity related to SMS logs, call logs, emails, pictures and locations on the target phone.
You can use this software to keep tabs on your kids, employees or whatever.
The point is, in order to use the software, you need to have the Appl ID and password of the iphone in order to get access to it (Good luck with that).
But this was my kid's phone so I have access to that information.
Then they tell you you need to enable icloud backup and set it to backup all the information on the iphone periodically. No problem with that either, actually kind of makes sense.
Then you download the software, install it on your PC and enter the Apple ID password into it. What the software really does is go to icloud.com with that Apple ID and password and downloads whatever information it can grab from there.
The scam is twofold:
First, if you have the Apple ID and password and can setup the icloud backup, you don't need any software, you just go to icloud.com, enter the user/pass and you get access to the whole thing without paying a penny or installing any software.
Second, even that is done wrong by this software. when you use it, all logs are empty and the only thing you will see will be the phone's name. No information is retrieved. Maybe they will fix it in the future and will be able to properly download the information from icloud and show it to you in your computer but even then you could just go to icloud yourself and look at the information for free.
OH!! And one last thing. The LOCATION services it will report even if they fix it, will be the location of the phone when the backup is done, there is no running location log on the iphone to backup and download so it will probably always show the same place where the phone is connected to the charger and Wi-Fi.
Stay away from this thing. I'm writing this without anger or trying to get back at them, it's just that I can't see these people stealing money and remain silent.
When I chatted with the guy in tech support and called him on all the ridiculous instructions he was giving, and then told him I knew he was BS'ing me because what he was saying didn't make sense, they offered to refund my money but I just know that's not going to happen. poorer but wiser I guess.
This is the transcript of that conversation. DON'T BUY THIS THING.
Henry Sawyer
Customer support
Chat started
Carlos
Hi, I received a message that my request xxxxxx had been updated but I can't look at it.
Carlos
Hello?
Hello??
Anyone there?
Henry Sawyer joined the chat
Henry Sawyer
Hi,
How may i help you ?
Carlos
Hi, I received a message that my request xxxxx had been updated but I can't look at it.
Henry Sawyer
May I have your order number and email id with which you made the purchase?
Do I have to reinstall the software again in 24 hours?
Henry Sawyer
No, as you have just reinstalled with the new build that i gave you
Carlos
OK, so, you're telling me, that Retinax needs to fetch the logs from icloud and that takes 24 hours? How do you do that without my icloud user and password? The logical thing is that this software goes to icloud and downloads whatever information it can when I start it.
Henry Sawyer
Yes.
Carlos
yes what?
Henry Sawyer
Yes when the Phone Sheriff Investigator gets start it downloads the logs, that why you need to login wit Apple ID and Password
Carlos
OK, then I shouldn't have to wait 24 hours, it doesn't take 24 hours to download a 8MB log to my computer.
so, why the 24 hours? The log is already there.
Henry Sawyer
There are many tasks perfromed in backend
So it takes time.
Carlos
Look, I'm not a little old lady, I'm a systems engineer and what you're telling me doesn't make sense. Just tell me this thing is a scam and I won't even try to get my money back, I just don't want to waste any more time.
There are no tasks performed in the backend, the only connection is between my computer and icloud. What backend?
Henry Sawyer
Okay i am forwarding your request for refund and it will be processed in 72 hours
Carlos
Thanks.
So it doesn't work?
Will I receive a refund notification from you now that you forwarded the request? Or I have to wait 72 hours to see what happens?
OK, so, you're telling me, that Retinax needs to fetch the logs from icloud and that takes 24 hours? How do you do that without my icloud user and password? The logical thing is that this software goes to icloud and downloads whatever information it can when I start it.
Look, I'm not a little old lady, I'm a systems engineer and what you're telling me doesn't make sense. Just tell me this thing is a scam and I won't even try to get my money back, I just don't want to waste any more time.
There are no tasks performed in the backend, the only connection is between my computer and icloud. What backend?
Retina-x Reviews
it is a scam indeed
Completely agree with the author, as I experienced exactly the same problems and the same level of "customer support" which is nothing more than a deterrent to delay the complaints. Unfortunately PayPal has a policy not to refund for intangible goods, so beware!
Obviously Retinax is well aware of this. They promised to investigate and refund - but as this is a scam - don't get your hopes up
Phonesheriff is asoftware that purports to give you access to an iphone or Android phone and you can see all activity related to SMS logs, call logs, emails, pictures and locations on the target phone.
You can use this software to keep tabs on your kids, employees or whatever.
The point is, in order to use the software, you need to have the Appl ID and password of the iphone in order to get access to it (Good luck with that).
But this was my kid's phone so I have access to that information.
Then they tell you you need to enable icloud backup and set it to backup all the information on the iphone periodically. No problem with that either, actually kind of makes sense.
Then you download the software, install it on your PC and enter the Apple ID password into it. What the software really does is go to icloud.com with that Apple ID and password and downloads whatever information it can grab from there.
The scam is twofold:
First, if you have the Apple ID and password and can setup the icloud backup, you don't need any software, you just go to icloud.com, enter the user/pass and you get access to the whole thing without paying a penny or installing any software.
Second, even that is done wrong by this software. when you use it, all logs are empty and the only thing you will see will be the phone's name. No information is retrieved. Maybe they will fix it in the future and will be able to properly download the information from icloud and show it to you in your computer but even then you could just go to icloud yourself and look at the information for free.
OH!! And one last thing. The LOCATION services it will report even if they fix it, will be the location of the phone when the backup is done, there is no running location log on the iphone to backup and download so it will probably always show the same place where the phone is connected to the charger and Wi-Fi.
Stay away from this thing. I'm writing this without anger or trying to get back at them, it's just that I can't see these people stealing money and remain silent.
When I chatted with the guy in tech support and called him on all the ridiculous instructions he was giving, and then told him I knew he was BS'ing me because what he was saying didn't make sense, they offered to refund my money but I just know that's not going to happen. poorer but wiser I guess.
This is the transcript of that conversation. DON'T BUY THIS THING.
Henry Sawyer
Customer support
Chat started
Carlos
Hi, I received a message that my request xxxxxx had been updated but I can't look at it.
Carlos
Hello?
Hello??
Anyone there?
Henry Sawyer joined the chat
Henry Sawyer
Hi,
How may i help you ?
Carlos
Hi, I received a message that my request xxxxx had been updated but I can't look at it.
Henry Sawyer
May I have your order number and email id with which you made the purchase?
Carlos
[email protected]
Henry Sawyer
Please give me moment
Carlos
order reference number: xxxxxxxx
Henry Sawyer
You need to uninstall and reinstall the software with the new updated link http://www.xxxxxxx.exe
Carlos
on my pc?
Henry Sawyer
Yes
Carlos
Same thing, all logs are empty and the only information I can see is the iphone name and the date of the last backup under ""Accounts""
Henry Sawyer
Whats the last date and time showing for backup ?
Carlos
2014/03/23 19:18:08
Henry Sawyer
Take backup now and then check
Take backup and then for for 24 hours and check
Carlos
Backup done. do I get out of the software and restart it?
Henry Sawyer
Wait for 24 hours and then check
Carlos
why? I can already see the backup on icloud!
What's the reason to wait 24 hours?
Henry Sawyer
On Phone Sheriff Investigator
Carlos
But why would it take 24 hours if the backup is already there?
Doesn't it load it when you start the software? That makes no sense..
What is it waiting for in those 24 hours?
Henry Sawyer
No, it takes time to fetch logs form icloud.
Carlos
And why wouldn't it take the backup made 3 days ago?
Henry Sawyer
There was some issue that's the reason we have updated the new build
So request you to wait for next 24 hours and then let us know.
You can email me on [email protected]
Carlos
Do I have to reinstall the software again in 24 hours?
Henry Sawyer
No, as you have just reinstalled with the new build that i gave you
Carlos
OK, so, you're telling me, that Retinax needs to fetch the logs from icloud and that takes 24 hours? How do you do that without my icloud user and password? The logical thing is that this software goes to icloud and downloads whatever information it can when I start it.
Henry Sawyer
Yes.
Carlos
yes what?
Henry Sawyer
Yes when the Phone Sheriff Investigator gets start it downloads the logs, that why you need to login wit Apple ID and Password
Carlos
OK, then I shouldn't have to wait 24 hours, it doesn't take 24 hours to download a 8MB log to my computer.
so, why the 24 hours? The log is already there.
Henry Sawyer
There are many tasks perfromed in backend
So it takes time.
Carlos
Look, I'm not a little old lady, I'm a systems engineer and what you're telling me doesn't make sense. Just tell me this thing is a scam and I won't even try to get my money back, I just don't want to waste any more time.
There are no tasks performed in the backend, the only connection is between my computer and icloud. What backend?
Henry Sawyer
Okay i am forwarding your request for refund and it will be processed in 72 hours
Carlos
Thanks.
So it doesn't work?
Will I receive a refund notification from you now that you forwarded the request? Or I have to wait 72 hours to see what happens?
Henry Sawyer
It will be credited in your account
Carlos
Thank you.
Description: https://v2assets.zopim.io/1BeXOVzsWyO15YB49vhs5GDzmGrwHviZ-concierge?1373746579522
Henry Sawyer
Customer support
Chat started
Description: https://v2.zopim.com/widget/images/avatar_simple_visitor.png
Carlos
Hi, I received a message that my request 242521 had been updated but I can't look at it.
Description: https://v2.zopim.com/widget/images/avatar_simple_visitor.png
Carlos
Hello?
Hello??
Anyone there?
Henry Sawyer joined the chat
Description: https://v2assets.zopim.io/1BeXOVzsWyO15YB49vhs5GDzmGrwHviZ-concierge?1373746579522
Henry Sawyer
Hi,
How may i help you ?
Description: https://v2.zopim.com/widget/images/avatar_simple_visitor.png
Carlos
Hi, I received a message that my request 242521 had been updated but I can't look at it.
Description: https://v2assets.zopim.io/1BeXOVzsWyO15YB49vhs5GDzmGrwHviZ-concierge?1373746579522
Henry Sawyer
May I have your order number and email id with which you made the purchase?
Description: https://v2.zopim.com/widget/images/avatar_simple_visitor.png
Carlos
[email protected]
Description: https://v2assets.zopim.io/1BeXOVzsWyO15YB49vhs5GDzmGrwHviZ-concierge?1373746579522
Henry Sawyer
Please give me moment
Description: https://v2.zopim.com/widget/images/avatar_simple_visitor.png
Carlos
order reference number: 25449991
Description: https://v2assets.zopim.io/1BeXOVzsWyO15YB49vhs5GDzmGrwHviZ-concierge?1373746579522
Henry Sawyer
You need to uninstall and reinstall the software with the new updated link http://www.phonesheriff.com/dls/PhoneSheriffInvestigatorSetup.exe
Description: https://v2.zopim.com/widget/images/avatar_simple_visitor.png
Carlos
on my pc?
Description: https://v2assets.zopim.io/1BeXOVzsWyO15YB49vhs5GDzmGrwHviZ-concierge?1373746579522
Henry Sawyer
Yes
Description: https://v2.zopim.com/widget/images/avatar_simple_visitor.png
Carlos
Same thing, all logs are empty and the only information I can see is the iphone name and the date of the last backup under ""Accounts""
Description: https://v2assets.zopim.io/1BeXOVzsWyO15YB49vhs5GDzmGrwHviZ-concierge?1373746579522
Henry Sawyer
Whats the last date and time showing for backup ?
Description: https://v2.zopim.com/widget/images/avatar_simple_visitor.png
Carlos
2014/03/23 19:18:08
Description: https://v2assets.zopim.io/1BeXOVzsWyO15YB49vhs5GDzmGrwHviZ-concierge?1373746579522
Henry Sawyer
Take backup now and then check
Take backup and then for for 24 hours and check
Description: https://v2.zopim.com/widget/images/avatar_simple_visitor.png
Carlos
BAckup done. do I get out of the software and restart it?
Description: https://v2assets.zopim.io/1BeXOVzsWyO15YB49vhs5GDzmGrwHviZ-concierge?1373746579522
Henry Sawyer
Wait for 24 hours and then check
Description: https://v2.zopim.com/widget/images/avatar_simple_visitor.png
Carlos
why? I can already see the backup on icloud!
What's the reason to wait 24 hours?
Description: https://v2assets.zopim.io/1BeXOVzsWyO15YB49vhs5GDzmGrwHviZ-concierge?1373746579522
Henry Sawyer
On Phone Sheriff Investigator
Description: https://v2.zopim.com/widget/images/avatar_simple_visitor.png
Carlos
But why would it take 24 hours if the backup is already there?
Doesn't it load it when you start the software? That makes no sens..
What is it waiting for in those 24 hours?
Description: https://v2assets.zopim.io/1BeXOVzsWyO15YB49vhs5GDzmGrwHviZ-concierge?1373746579522
Henry Sawyer
No, it takes time to fetch logs form icloud.
Description: https://v2.zopim.com/widget/images/avatar_simple_visitor.png
Carlos
And why wouldn't it take the backup made 3 days ago?
Description: https://v2assets.zopim.io/1BeXOVzsWyO15YB49vhs5GDzmGrwHviZ-concierge?1373746579522
Henry Sawyer
There was some issue that's the reason we have updated the new build
So request you to wait for next 24 hours and then let us know.
You can email me on [email protected]
Description: https://v2.zopim.com/widget/images/avatar_simple_visitor.png
Carlos
Do I have to reinstall the software again in 24 hours?
Description: https://v2assets.zopim.io/1BeXOVzsWyO15YB49vhs5GDzmGrwHviZ-concierge?1373746579522
Henry Sawyer
No, as you have just reinstalled with the new build that i gave you
Description: https://v2.zopim.com/widget/images/avatar_simple_visitor.png
Carlos
OK, so, you're telling me, that Retinax needs to fetch the logs from icloud and that takes 24 hours? How do you do that without my icloud user and password? The logical thing is that this software goes to icloud and downloads whatever information it can when I start it.
Description: https://v2assets.zopim.io/1BeXOVzsWyO15YB49vhs5GDzmGrwHviZ-concierge?1373746579522
Henry Sawyer
Yes.
Description: https://v2.zopim.com/widget/images/avatar_simple_visitor.png
Carlos
yes what?
Description: https://v2assets.zopim.io/1BeXOVzsWyO15YB49vhs5GDzmGrwHviZ-concierge?1373746579522
Henry Sawyer
Yes when the Phone Sheriff Investigator gets start it downloads the logs, that why you need to login wit Apple ID and Password
Description: https://v2.zopim.com/widget/images/avatar_simple_visitor.png
Carlos
OK, then I shouldn't have to wait 24 hours, it doesn't take 24 hours to download a 8MB log to my computer.
so, why the 24 hours? The log is already there.
Description: https://v2assets.zopim.io/1BeXOVzsWyO15YB49vhs5GDzmGrwHviZ-concierge?1373746579522
Henry Sawyer
There are many tasks perfromed in backend
Soit takes time.
Description: https://v2.zopim.com/widget/images/avatar_simple_visitor.png
Carlos
Look, I'm not a little old lady, I'm a systems engineer and what you're telling me doesn't make sense. Just tell me this thing is a scam and I won't even try to get my money back, I just don't want to waste any more time.
There are no tasks performed in the backend, the only connection is between my computer and icloud. What backend?
Description: https://v2assets.zopim.io/1BeXOVzsWyO15YB49vhs5GDzmGrwHviZ-concierge?1373746579522
Henry Sawyer
Okay i am forwarding your request for refund and it will be processed in 72 hours
Description: https://v2.zopim.com/widget/images/avatar_simple_visitor.png
Carlos
Thanks.
So it doesn't work?
Will I receive a refund notification from you now that you forwarded the request? Or I have to wait 72 hours to see what happens?
Description: https://v2assets.zopim.io/1BeXOVzsWyO15YB49vhs5GDzmGrwHviZ-concierge?1373746579522
Henry Sawyer
It will be credited in your account
Description: https://v2.zopim.com/widget/images/avatar_simple_visitor.png
Carlos
Thank you.