Multinational Crackdown on Computer Con Artists

News

The Federal Trade Commission announced Wednesday a multinational crackdown on so-called tech support scams, in which the callers, who usually asserted that they represented technology companies like Microsoft, Dell and security companies like Symantec and McAfee, tried either to sell virus-protection software or to get the consumer to allow remote access to his computer so that the caller could then “fix” it, for fees of $45 to $450.

In six cases filed in federal district court in Manhattan, the commission named 17 individuals and 14 companies, most in India, as participants in the operations, including many with legitimate-sounding names like Virtual PC Doctor and V-Tech Solutions.

At the commission’s request, a federal district judge in Manhattan froze the United States assets of the suspects. The commission also said it had shut down 80 Internet domain names and 130 phone numbers in the United States used in the scheme. Efforts to reach several of the companies and individuals were unsuccessful.

The suspected fraud occurred in several English-speaking countries. Joining the F.T.C. in the enforcement action were the Australian Communications and Media Authority, the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission and Britain’s Serious Organized Crime Agency.

The Story

notgiven, thank you for the news tip!

Comments

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  • +3
    Cautious
    | 5 replies
    I love reading these stories about actions being taken to try to bring these parasites to justice, although it would be far better to hear that the people responsible have been arrested and are now sitting behind bars.

    I wonder how many of these investigations and legal actions eventually result in the guilty party going to jail and not just a fine or a slap on the wrist.

    It seems to me that so few of these scams are ever investigated, fewer still ever result in some sort of punishment and virtually none result in jail time for the criminals responsible. That's probably why there are so many of these scams, business is good and the risks are low.

    Sorry for the cynical comment, but I still liked reading the news story. Thanks!
  • +3
    Maybe this would get their attention
    | 7 replies
    For scammers and telemarketers who don't honor the DNC list and debt collectors that violate the law in their collection efforts it seems like we can pick an arbitrary number of verified violations coming from a given source (maybe 50? As long as there's enough required to make their guilt unambiguous) and once that threshold is passed the source of the calls is geo-located and a Predator drone strike is called in no matter where on Earth they are located.

    I would imagine that more people every day would agree that the use of Hellfire missiles is increasingly justified against these bottom-feeders and thieves. Collateral damage from drone strikes doesn't seem to bother the public too much so I don't anticipate much uproar over hitting the wrong building occasionally.

    Reach out and touch someone!
  • +1
    JN
    | 14 replies
    Nothing will be done.  Out of the USA.  I wish I had the option to block ALL calls from outside of the USA, all 800-866 calls too.  But the phone company protects them.
  • +1
    lone stranger replies to JN
    | 5 replies
    Of course something will be done - they will be fined $1 per paying victim, plead poverty, have the fine reduced by half, and have the remaining half suspended provided that they apologize for what they did.

    If that kind of vigorous enforcement doesn't put the fear into scofflaws like these, what will?
  • 0
    larry replies to JN
    | 7 replies
    The only way I know of blocking is with AT&T call screening..You get to allow 20 numbers to get thru, then you pay xtra if you need more.. Believe me, it works...
  • 0
    Shill Alert replies to lone stranger
    | 1 reply
    As long as there's enough left over for some campaign contributions all is forgiven.

    Go obamaromney! Or is it romneyobama? I keep getting them confused!
  • +2
    | 1 reply
    Or send a couple of mercenaries to their boiler rooms.
  • +1
    Alfalfa replies to lone stranger
    | 1 reply
    That about sums it up. Even more laughable is repeatedly seeing these scofflaws resurface like a bunch of crocodiles after the ink on the consent orders has barely dried and operating under a new entity. Wash, rinse, repeat.
  • +1
    LawAbidingCitizen replies to lone stranger
    US Citizens pay for them if they go to jail. So We pay them for the scam or pay for them to live in jail.
    Its a NO WIN for the US.
  • +1
    LawAbidingCitizen replies to larry
    | 1 reply
    Next time save money and write the number down.
    Then go online and add it to every place You can find that will txt or call them to sell them something.
    They'll spend more time answering calls then calling to bother someone.

    I did it and it works for me.
  • +2
    LawAbidingCitizen replies to Maybe this would get their attention
    | 1 reply
    Next time save money and write the number down.
    Then go online and add it to every place You can find that will txt or call them to sell them something.
    They'll spend more time answering calls then calling to bother someone.

    I did it and it works for me.
    Try it.
  • +2
    David
    | 2 replies
    Many of these tech crimes are now (sadly) originating in India. The Indian's are now some of the most intelligent and advanced software engineers in the world now. Their strict discipline that is instilled in their lives to persue eduaction with a passion is way passing up the average American in the engineering fields.

    Unfortunately this advanced knowledge and expertice in the tech industry has created many bad apples along the way. Using all of that education and talent just to extort vulnerable people of their finances is as bad as it gets. It makes me cringe when someone with a brilliant education has to abuse their talents. I only wish that I could've had the opportunity to have earned an advanced degree in college. But that wasn't feasable when I was young and had to scratch and claw to survive.

    A college degree is THE most important accomplishment one can EVER achieve in life. If you're fortunate to possess one, please don't abuse your talents.
  • +2
    perry replies to Alfalfa
    Dead on.    To them the law is nothing more than a speed bump on the way to the bank.
  • +4
    Payback replies to David
    Too bad they don't infect their own computers with the viruses they created or bought from other frauds. They are white collared psychopaths with an education. Just because people are educated don't mean that they are nice and decent. Most educated people are professionals and there are educated, lying and greedy scums among them.
  • +1
    Payback
    | 1 reply
    Let me correct myself. "White Collar" Done.
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