InfoBytes Blog
FTC, Federal, State, and International Partners Announce Crackdown on Tech Support Scams
On May 12, the FTC, along with federal, state and international law enforcement partners, announced new enforcement actions in its “Operation Tech Trap” program. The program is designed to crack down on tech support scams that, among other things, deceive consumers into believing their computers are infected with viruses and malware and then charge them for unnecessary repairs. According to FTC, its Operation Tech Trap partners have brought 29 law enforcement actions against deceptive tech support operations in the last year. Among the four new complaints announced on May 12, the FTC has already been granted temporary restraining orders in three of the cases to stop the tech support companies’ deceptive practices, freeze their assets, and appoint a temporary receiver to take control of them.
The FTC also announced a settlement in a pending action brought by the FTC and the Attorneys General of Connecticut and Pennsylvania against two defendants who allegedly participated in deceptive acts and practices in connection with the advertising, marketing, and sale of computer security or technical support products and services. Under the terms of the settlement, the defendants are subject to a money judgment in excess of $27 million. The stipulated final order has been entered by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. In addition to the FTC and state cases, DOJ brought federal criminal charges against seven individuals, two of whom have entered guilty pleas, for their participation in an international “Tech Support Scam.” Moreover, with respect to its international efforts, Operation Tech Trap is working with authorities in India to crack down on tech support scammers, and have also instituted consumer and business education outreach initiatives with Australia and Canada.