Computer tech support scam also targeted Irish

Computer owners in Ireland are among potentially thousands targeted by scammers who told them that their machines were infected by viruses and saying they would fix the problem for as much as €350.

US regulators have charged 14 firms and 17 people with impersonating major companies to scam consumers in mainly English-speaking countries.

The Federal Trade Commission said the action was part of an international crackdown on tech-support scams. A federal judge in New York has issued an order halting six alleged scams and freezing their assets. The telemarketing schemes are mostly operated from India and target consumers in the US, Britain, Canada, Australia, Ireland, and New Zealand, the agency said.

The telemarketers claimed they worked for companies such as Microsoft and Dell, saying they had detected a virus or malware. They offered to fix the problems remotely for $49 (€38) to $450.

The FTC alleged in lawsuits filed in New York that the companies and individuals violated federal law prohibiting unfair and deceptive practices. They also illegally called phone numbers listed on an ex-directory registry, the FTC said. It said the firms used 80 computer domain names and 130 phone numbers to avoid detection.

The firms named in the suits are Pecon Software Ltd, Pecon Infotech Ltd, Pecon Software UK Ltd, PCCare247 Inc, PCCare247 Solutions Pvt Ltd, Connexxions Infotech Inc, Connexxions IT Services Pvt Ltd, Zeal IT Solutions Pvt Ltd, Lakshmi Infosoul Services Pvt Ltd, Finmaestros LLC, New World Services Inc, MegaBites Solutions LLC, Greybytes Cybertech P Ltd and Shine Solutions Private Ltd.