Symantec has detected "Live PC Care" service to be fake anti-virus software and is warning users not to be fooled by what is an apparently plausible attempt to get people to pay for computer support services.

Phony anti-virus is big business these days, with Symantec reporting 43 million installation attempts from over 250 distinct programs between July 1, 2008, to June 30, 2009. With fake AV software costing the victim anywhere from $30 to $100, this is a lucrative earner for criminals.

But the fake anti-virus software known as Live PC Care, officially dubbed "Trojan.FakeAV" by Symantec, has now gone as far as offering live online support to potential victims. If a potential victim clicks on the online support button they are brought to a live "support" chat session. Not just a "bot" or text-generating algorithm, either, but a real live cyber criminal.

"After a number of questions we determined that it was not an automated script but rather a live person at the other end," said Peter Coogan, Security analyst at Symantec. "The main aim of the online support session is to reassure suspicious victims that Live PC Care is legitimate software and that without activating the software at a cost, your computer system is at risk."

How's that for irony.