Attorney General Bondi and the FTC Shut Down Two Multi-Million-Dollar Schemes Selling Tech Support Services TALLAHASSEE, Fla.— Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Office and the Federal Trade Commission filed a complaint against multiple companies operating multi-million dollar schemes to sell tech support services to consumers nationwide, many of whom are senior citizens. The Court also granted a temporary injunction preventing the businesses from making any false or misleading statements to induce a person to pay for goods or services, charging any consumer for the purchase of specific products, suspending the websites of the businesses, freezing corporate assets and appointing a receiver. The Delray Police Department and the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office assisted in executing the Temporary Restraining Orders. Inbound Call Experts, Super PC Support and related entities also operated a technical support scam that exploited consumers’ fears of viruses, malware and other security threats to their computers. The defendants allegedly offered to perform a free “diagnostic” check that falsely claimed infections to consumers’ computers and could only be resolved manually by a technician. Consumers paid hundreds of dollars for unnecessary repairs, long-term maintenance programs and installations of free or outdated programs. The defendants’ sales have exceeded $100 million. Vast Tech Support, LLC and related entities allegedly used deceptive online advertisements and telephone calls to convince consumers to run scans on their computers to detect errors. According to the investigation, the defendants ran scans on consumers’ computers and then charged for repairs when the computers actually had no performance problems. Consumers paid up to $500 for repairs in addition to other charges for software. This scheme has caused more than $22 million in consumer injury. The complaints seek the following: · A preliminary injunction and relief to avert the likelihood of consumer injury during this action and to preserve the possibility of final relief, including temporary or preliminary injunctions, an order providing for immediate access, turnover of business records, an asset freeze, the appointment of receiver, and the disruption of domain and telephone services; · A permanent injunction to prevent future violations of the Federal Trade Commission Act, the Telemarketing Sales Rule and the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act by the defendants. · Relief the Court deems necessary to redress injury to consumers; and · Attorneys’ fees. The related entities and defendants in the first case are as follows: Inbound Call Experts, LLC, dba Advanced Tech Support; Advanced Tech Supportco, LLC; PC Vitalware, LLC; Super PC Support, LLC; Robert D. Deignan; Paul M. Herdsman; Justin M. Wright; PC Cleaner, Inc.; Netcom3 Global, Inc.; Netcom3, Inc. dba Netcom3 Software Inc. and Cashier Myricks, Jr. The related entities and defendants in the second case are as follows: Vast Tech Support, LLC, dba OMG Tech Help, OMG Total Protection, OMG Back Up, Downloadsoftware, and Softwaretechsupport; Boost Software, Inc.; Success Capital, LLC; Jon Paul Holdings, LLC; Amit Mehta; Elliot Lowenstern; Jon-Paul Vasta; and Mark Donahue. Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Office has also issued subpoenas on four additional tech support cases in conjunction with these two lawsuits. TechFix USA LLC, ProTech Support, LLC, E-Racer Tech, LLC and ASAP Tech Help were served subpoenas. Anyone who suspects unfair or deceptive business practices can file a complaint with the Attorney General’s Office online at MyFloridaLegal or in-state via phone at 1-866-NO-SCAM. Out-of-state individuals can call 850-414-3990.
Posted on: Wed, 19 Nov 2014 17:09:52 +0000
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