The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has been active in sending refunds to consumers who were allegedly victimized by false and misleading advertising and marketing campaigns. On October 14, the FTC announced that it was sending more than $7 million to victims of a tech support scam.
According to the FTC, Vast Tech Support, LLC, and OMG Tech Help, LLC, used free security-scanning software trials to trick people into thinking there were problems with their computers and then pressured them into buying tech support products and services.
As part of the settlements with the FTC, the two companies agreed to pay money to the Commission for the consumer refunds.
In November 2014, at the request of the FTC and the State of Florida, a federal court temporarily shut down two massive telemarketing operations that allegedly conned tens of thousands of consumers out of more than $120 million by deceptively marketing computer software and tech support services. Vast Tech Support and OMG Tech Help were two of the companies involved.
The FTC stated that in 2019, FTC actions led to more than $373 million in refunds to consumers across the country.