FTC’s Tech Support Takedown 2019

I AM A RETIRED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, WITH 29 YEARS OF SERVICE. I HAVE HAD OVER 300 OF THESE FRAUD, SCAM, FAKE TECH SUPPORT ILLEGAL CALLS. I HAVE SENT IN HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS TO THE FEDERAL FTC, FCC, ATTORNEY GEN. OFFICE AND ALL LOCAL STATES AUTHORITIES. I AM ALSO HELPING OTHER PEOPLE ON THIS AND OTHER SCAMS. I WILL ABSOUTELY TESTIFY IN ANY USA COURT, TO PUT THESE ILLEGALS, SCAMMERS AND FRAUD IDIOTS IN PRISON AND MAKE THEM PAY MILLIONS.!!!

this is what happened to me 4 years ago, and they still keep calling me. They do not care that I told them I contacted the FTC and reported them for fraud and harassment. They also opened up Venmo accounts and started draining my checking account. What a nightmare. I am older also we tend to be more trusting.

I am a retired 64 year old who was tricked onto checking a box for "Mackeeper", thinking it was and Official Mac (Apple) suggestions. Thereafter, I was repeatedly PLAGUED by unsolicited "Pop-Ups". The pop-ups persisted and ousted me from whatever I was viewing on my MacBook Air. It was frustrating and aggravating to be booted out of my intended site over and over again, and then the "history" of what I was looking at, was replaced with "Mackeeper", sometimes listed 20 times in a matter of minutes! So, each time I tried to return to a site, I'd be booted out again. I eventually had to take my lap-top to be debugged from the scammers who call themselves "Mackeeper", who are NOT affiliated with Mac/Apple Company. I urge my fellow retirees, and everyone else.... be careful what you click on, even if it appears to be legitimate... it probably isn't!

The EXACT same thing happened to me a couple of years ago, except that at the same time that they locked my screen, there was a LOUD penetrating buzz coming from my computer which was doubly confounding. They were pretending to be my Norton Anti-virus support team and by calling the number which they provided, I gave them access to my computer. By the time he got around to asking for 300.00 to clear viruses and unlock my compurpter, I realized that I had been duped and refused to give him money. After that we received numerous phone calls on a regular basis until the calls became less frequent. Yes, I am a senior citizen!

Why are people over 60 more vulnerable to this scam? You don't qualify this article. This scam has been around for years. I would have been more likely to fall for this when it first started around 10 years ago, when I was in my 50s.

Thank you (again)

Getting calls claiming they are ssa

Thank you so much for the update. Tech Support scammers have been stealing from computer users for years.

Thank you for this information and I have forwarded it to my siblings in their 50's and 60's and even to my Mom who in her late 80's as she also uses her computer regularly. A special thank you to Mr. Holmes who graciously shared his story. No doubt his willingness to do so will help protect others.

A real hero for us the elder statespersons Is that even a word?

Thank you for this information. I have received these scams too, but luckily ignored them.

I had some instances where I had problems with my computer.I have a hp computer and also it gave me info to talk to a technician.I would tell them my problem and they would direct me by telefone as what to do to correct it.Then they would try to sell me support for a yearly basis I heard that and said I could not aford that and hung up.I am more aware now as how to fix my own computer with no help.

Please check out SRS IT Services LLC and 365 Tech Care. I believe I was scammed out of $3000.00 and want to recover that money from SRS IT Services LLC.

Thanks for the good information. I wish you could help get at least some of my money back.

I need to report a scam but cant figure out how to! It has to do with un-asked for magazine subscriptions.

And just how are you to rid your computer on the hold the fraudsters have on it?

Thank you! It means so much!

I have one simple rule. I never do business with someone who solicits business or wants my credit card over the phone. As a senior myself, I trust nobody I do not know.

Fortunately, I have a son, who is a writer and school teacher who knows alot more about computers than I, as a senior citizen. So, if I feel something is not quite right when something pops up on my screen,I request he investigate.I did know that Social Security or Medicare do not use telephone calls to contact you anytime and I was able to avoid those calls.I did have a problem with medicare for all sorts of back braces,etc.being shipped to me without my authorization.It was a mightmare but I reported this to medicare, who had paid for them, and we managed to get medicare their money back.These telemarkerters need to get a REAL job and stop harassing people, partucularly senior citizens.

The mini-video on scamming is very effective. Could you possibly send it in a different format so that we could copy and save it on a flash drive for showing to large groups.

I submitted a complaint about numerous calls from a scammer, identifying themselves as Apple, INC. they call at numerous times during the day. I am recuperating from several surgeries I've had since September 13, 2018. The number, they had been calling from came up 408-996-1010; now they're calling again and number comes up, Apple, Inc. 949-325-5426. They actually called today, twice and this is Sunday! We had been scammed several years ago; so I know not to fall for this one. The first time they called, I answered and they started telling me they found malicious spyware on my IPad and IPhone. Apple Does Not call people, if you're having trouble with your device, you have to call Apple! I notified Apple about this. I just wanted to make people aware of this.

I’ve had several calls Over the years. First it was windows support, now Apple/ iCloud support. The number they call from even says Apple Inc. I called the number back and it goes to an Apple store in another state, the woman who answered informed me that Apple will not call people! The same thing with windows they will not call you. It’s so frustrating because they keep calling me now several times a day

Hello, I have been scammed by GreenfieldsCapital.com who lost my life savings of £12000 in a matter of days. I don't believe their trading platform to be real. They seem to control if you win or lose and they deliberately told me to trade in investments they knew were rubbish just to lose all my money as I said I wanted out. I believe what they are doing is illegal (its certainly immoral). They would shout and scream at me . Tell me to trust them and continually asked for more money to join the next group up etc. When I said i just wanted to take it slow and recoup my deposit, they put it on trades they knew would fail just to get rid of me. I got helped by an expert organization of wealth and funds recovery

I hate to admit that I fell for this a couple of years ago. I'm a retired former construction business owner that employed over 25 people and think I'm computer savvy. But the red pop up box and warning seemed so real and serious. . . I called the number and talked to this "helpful" male that used perfect English. No hint of a foreign accent! Gave him my credit card information to pay the fee. One time clean up - or clean up and a year warranty - or clean up with extended warranty that was the best value for the amount. He took over my computer and I sat and watched as it scrolled through files. Fortunately my adult son just happened to stop by and asked why I was staring at my computer. When I explained to him that my computer was infected with some virus, he immediately told me to turn it off - that it was a scam. Shortly thereafter the phone rang and the nice young man said he somehow lost connection. I told him I had changed my mind and had intentionally turned it off - that he should credit my money back. He asked how I was going to get rid of the virus. When I told him I thought there really wasn't one - he swore there was and he was with a legitimate company, only trying to help me, etc., etc., etc. My son grabbed the phone and proceeded to slowly, firmly, very intentionally inform this person (I can't now remember his name) that what he was doing was illegal, that he was taking advantage of his elderly mother and if he dared to let the charges go through on my credit card it would be another crime for which he would be reported and prosecuted. I had taken all kinds of notes such as the amounts to be charged, his name, and everything he had told me. Nothing ever showed on my credit card statement and my computer was not damaged. We reversed what ever it was that I had done to allow him to take control. Since that time I have twice experienced the Pop-up warning, this last time with an annoying sound. It also warns you that if you turn off your computer you will wipe the hard drive clean and lose everything. I took that chance anyway since nothing else seemed to make the warning go away. The warning was still present when I turned it back on. So, the second time I turned it off, I waited over an hour before restarting the computer. It was OK. It's the same laptop I'm using today. I told all my friends - and I hope writing this will help if it happens to you.

But how do you get them to stop calling and bothering you after 2 years of these same callers?

I just had this happen to me....the same thing - my computer said there was a virus...couldn't get rid of it until I call the "Microsoft" number. Unfortunately, they sounded so "authenic"...I let them "remote in" to my computer. Thank God I hung up without giving them any critical information - but I'm scared to do ANYTHING on my computer now! Even sending this!

This they want to "Refund my money, because they are going out of business" The Tech Cons never stop, do they? How much longer will these con-artist continue to harass us? Is there anything the government and consumers can do to get rid of this threat? I have fallen prey to this thing before, not a good feeling!