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.