Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

DainBramaged

(39,191 posts)
Thu Oct 4, 2012, 07:30 AM Oct 2012

U.S. works to shut down tech support scam

The United States has taken steps to shut down several fake tech support scams that have cost consumers tens of millions of dollars, the Federal Trade Commission said on Wednesday.

In the scheme, six separate rings of scam artists, most in India, call people in the United States, Canada, Australia and elsewhere, identify themselves as working for reputable companies and ask the victim to check his or her computer. The consumers are then told their computer has a virus that can be removed for a fee of $49 to $450.

FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz estimated that the scams had netted tens of millions of dollars.

The FTC froze the U.S. assets of scam artists, had their websites taken down and convinced U.S. phone carriers to shut down services that allowed them to operate from India using U.S. telephone numbers.

Five of the six groups telephoned consumers and claimed to be from legitimate companies such as Microsoft or Dell, while the sixth advertised through Google.

http://bottomline.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/10/03/14206238-us-works-to-shut-down-tech-support-scam?lite


Offshoring tech support, who knew it wouldn't be safe........

3 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
U.S. works to shut down tech support scam (Original Post) DainBramaged Oct 2012 OP
I love the videos on YouTube of people keeping these dillweeds going for up to an hour. Systematic Chaos Oct 2012 #1
I'm sure someone here got caught by these scum DainBramaged Oct 2012 #2
Oh man, those assholes called me 3 times on the same day once. cemaphonic Oct 2012 #3

Systematic Chaos

(8,601 posts)
1. I love the videos on YouTube of people keeping these dillweeds going for up to an hour.
Thu Oct 4, 2012, 08:04 AM
Oct 2012

Every minute they waste on someone who's onto them and will keep them dancing for nothing is a minute which can't be used to bilk the gullible.

cemaphonic

(4,138 posts)
3. Oh man, those assholes called me 3 times on the same day once.
Thu Oct 4, 2012, 08:17 PM
Oct 2012

1st call, I just hung up (and then googled around to confirm that it was as scammy as it sounded)

2nd call, I toyed with them for awhile, and then "got called away suddenly"

3rd call, they still weren't getting the hint, so I just threatened to report them to the relevant authorities, at which they got abusive in an amusingly passive-agressive manner.

Very unprofessional conmen. Would not buy.

Glad to see the feds are cracking down on them.

(Oh, and OP - what does this have to do with the outsourcing of legit tech support, other than playing on people's expectations that tech support callcenter workers are often Indian?)

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»U.S. works to shut down t...