[stylist] Caution, remote computer repair and support

[Lynda Lambert]

I was sucked into this scam a couple years ago. The company that did this to 
me sends out notices using the term "IT" and they are in India. They 
"checked out my computer" for me, and they  installed malware.  The first 
time it cost me about $200. for their services. But I had no idea the damage 
they were doing when they were "checking out" my files.  Of  course, you 
have some problems that come up,  they will tell you about, so they let you 
know so they can "fix" it again. The second year of this wonderful service, 
cost me about $350. and lots more problems. My computer completely crashed 
and I had to have a new computer.  They were there to "help" me again...a 
computer technician from my blind association came to visit me, and she 
contacted Microsoft and together they discovered what was going on . Now, I 
have a FREE virus program from Microsoft! Oh, I forgot to mention, the "IT" 
company also hacked into my email - and I had to disconnect that E-mail 
address - this was just prior to my computer completely crashing. I would 
say to never allow anyone who calls you or sends you a pop up saying your 
computer needs serviced. I had two years of terrible and expensive problems 
that even caused my computer to crash. LYnda

-----Original Message----- 
From: Peter Donahue via stylist
Sent: Friday, August 11, 2017 8:01 PM
To: 'Writers' Division Mailing List'
Cc: Peter Donahue
Subject: Re: [stylist] Caution, remote computer repair and support

Good evening everyone,

This outfit sounnds like a scam! We've received similar contacts from
companies claiming our computer was not working and they want to give it a
maintenance check. We tell such folks that we already have a reliable and
trustworthy computer repair service and are very happy with them. I went on
further to say that if we need a computer repair technician we'll call one.
If they persist in "Checking our computer" which is a setup for them to
install milicious software we inform them we'll contact the Texas Attorney
General for advice. The conversation abruptly ends. This is excelent advice
to protect one's technology infrastructure from illegal hackers.

Peter Donahue.

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Bill Outman
via stylist
Sent: Friday, August 11, 2017 3:55 PM
To: 'Writers' Division Mailing List'
Cc: Bill Outman
Subject: [stylist] Caution, remote computer repair and support

Hello, list.



I am putting this out for a number of email lists I am on so different
groups I am in touch with can be aware of this issue.



As blind and visually impaired persons we depend a lot on our technology and
want it to be functional at all times if we can.



I have had some issues with my Windows laptop for some time, and I got an
urgent pop up while doing a Google search.  The notice said I should call
Microsoft Technical Support at a given number, only to find when I called
they were an independent firm claiming to have Microsoft and Apple
certification.  While the repair service seems to have good technical merit,
the aggressive sales, lack of full transparency of the company, inattention
to accessibility, and lack of documentation of the work and contract other
than a bare bones invoice all detracted from what they might have duly
earned.



The company is called Itech Services, also doing business as Agile.  They
finally agreed to a full refund today after I canceled my service due to
concerns about possible fraud and the sloppy practices I outlined to them.



They may actually be legitimate, though as I have said they are rather fast
and losse, but their business practices need a lot of work for them to be
truly top flight.  This had taken place over the weekend.  The first session
was this past Saturday, but required a Sunday session because they had left
my email disabled the first time.  The work entailed cleanup of malware and
application errors, and firewall installation.  But again it wasn't fully
documented where I could double check it to make sure harm wasn't done as
well, taking away from what appears to be technical merit.



So while this appears to have been resolved without major incident in the
end, it is a cautionary tale.  There a number of fraudulent operators out
there; my mom had been victimized by one, and it's a shame this ruins what
is a justifiable market slot.



Thanks for bearing with me on this story.



Bill Outman



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