FTC ready to give back tech support scamming money to the bilked

The FTC says it has begun the process of refunding $10m it collected from a tech support scam operation. The US trade watchdog said customers who bought bogus security software from a company called "Advanced Tech Support" or "Inbound Call Experts" will be eligible to get partial refunds. According to the FTC, the operators …

[Ken Moorhouse]

Surely they have a record of credit cards debited...

...then they credit those accounts. Why not?

Sending out emails is crass. Or maybe they don't want to reimburse the money.

[2460 Something]

Re: Surely they have a record of credit cards debited...

Not only is it crass, but you just know it will be set up like many actual scam emails that have gone before ... maybe they are just assuming that because they fell for a real scam, they will be just as likely to input details on a new 'non-scam' link.

Those that have had details compromised will hopefully have new accounts so although they have the scammed account information it may not be active. However, they still have other contact information. Maybe try with the banks they held the compromised account with so they can work out an automatic credit option.

[Anonymous Coward]

Just make sure the email is from the FTC....

So they'll send it to the same senior citizens that fell for the scam? And if said senior citizens don't understand the instructions or if they believe it is yet another scam the FTC gets to keep the money? Brilliant!

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: Just make sure the email is from the FTC....

Or, those who do believe that it's real will now have it reinforced that emails like this are genuine and if I enter my bank details on this page that the lovely email said I should, I'll definitely get given some money. That nice Nigerian Prince really is generous.

Would you like a cup of tea?

[Pen-y-gors]

The banks can help

A friend got badly malwared and phoned one of those adverts on Google who could 'fix things' for a bargain of £60. He fell for the spiel. Luckily his bank didn't and bounced the payment. An hour with MalwareBytes had him sorted.

[Tom 7]

Re: The banks can help

Presumably that was a credit card payment so the bank was helping itself really.

[David Roberts]

Avast?

Apart from the initial contact this seems close to their upsell business model.

[Someone Else]

I'm trying to think of what I'd do if I received an email from the "FTC"

Probably hit that little "flame" icon on T-bird that corresponds to "mark as SPAM", and carry on.

[Mark 85]

I have to wonder why that when a company like this steals/cons $100M +, the fine is relatively small? It does seem that crime does pay.. no jail time, keep most of the money, etc.

[J. Cook]

Most likely because it's because the con artists running it have spent most of the money, and the 'fine' is all that the FTC can squeeze out of them. Blood from a stone and all that.