Micro Billing System scam

Browntoa

it's the "grey" area as you have ticked to ok the software download , probably agreeing to the terms and conditions without reading them (we ALL do it) , so that you can access/view something (not always !!!!!! !!) , hidden away is that you will be "billed" for the honour

superscaper

As browntoa says, Leeds trading standards apparently say it is legal. But yes it is ransomware (I think that's the correct term, I don't know, so many new words invented ). The big legal question is do you have a right to remove the software without paying them. MBS claim not, hypocritically they're threatening legal action against those who describe how or include methods in removal tools on getting rid of it. Sometimes morality and legality aren't coincidental.

Browntoa

it's a variation of an old scam I suspect..the My sexworld part is hoping for the embaressment factor, you will pay up (especially if you look at !!!!!!) to get rid

there was an old scam where you were offered a full refund but the refund cheque was drawn on an account from "Rubber bondage Society" , many did'nt bank the cheque for the same reason !!

bat999

Hi
That suggestion to system restore, by rottie2 above, looks sensible.
Has anyone else tried it?

superscaper

Browntoa wrote: »

there was an old scam where you were offered a full refund but the refund cheque was drawn on an account from "Rubber bondage Society" , many did'nt bank the cheque for the same reason !!

I probably wouldn't either if it was me a few years ago. Nowadays I'm so flaming principled I'd probably look the cashier straight in the eye without flinching, maybe even make a preemptive jokey remark first, and then get carted away for sexual harrassment (!!!! politically correct society )

Quasar

I had something similar happen to me about 6 months ago. Suddenly there was a bill popping up demanding payment for a site I never even knew existed. Nothing worked, except a system restore.

Nenen

I was receiving MBS popup bills after our 17 yo son used my laptop! I used the link Donnie posted in mail 38 on this thread: http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=476740

this suggested downloading 'Brute Froce Uninstaller'. I followed the instructions and it worked a treat on my laptop... thanks again Donnie :beer: :beer: :beer:
However, my desktop had simultaneously ground to a halt (wouldn't boot except in safe mode and even then wouldn't connect to the internet). I don't know if that was caused by MBS too as we hadn't had any bill pop-ups on the desktop only on the laptop... so it may have been a complete coincidence. I tried running the BFU but that made no difference so I tried doing system restore on the desktop and that didn't work either. I finally gave up trying myself as everything I did seemed to make things worse and I was terrified of losing all my work etc :eek: . I called in an 'expert' (i.e. someone who charges) and he insisted the only way to get my desktop working properly again was to reformat the hard drive, which he did (having first made copies of all my work onto his hard drive so he could restore them afterwards). It is now working... phew!

RisingDamp

Anybody reading this thread who's had experience of the MBS menace should make sure they complain to Trading Standards, as did I on behalf of a family member. The company is based in West Yorks, so a trip to Consumer Direct's website is needed to complain, but I'd also suggest you complain to your local TS office if you're in another area. This helps a picture to emerge.

Radio4 have been running this story in You and Yours - I was involved in this, having taken the matter to them in May. No doubt some of you will have read other postings on other forums, so will have got an idea that this is a problem affecting a lot of people, and not all of them have had any contact that they're aware of, with the sites who use the MBS collection method.

It really is a consumer issue that must not be allowed to drop. MBS are talking about taking it to movie, music and gambling sites. Do we want this? Particularly since there are a lot of people who are adamant that they've not willingly/knowingly downloaded the accursed software which causes all these problems.

Incidentally, the item has also run in the Guardian, and there are websites linked to those articles which have information of interest to recent victims.

bat999

Yes but if the solution really is just to do a system restore then it's not a problem, just another irritation like a virus.(imho)

superscaper

bat999 wrote: »

Yes but if the solution really is just to do a system restore then it's not a problem, just another irritation like a virus.(imho)

I'm surprised if that solution really does work for everybody as this thread is the first time I've seen it mentioned as a solution, the pc advisor forums don't mention it at all I don't think. I guess time will bear out whether it turns out to be the best proposed solution as it would certainly be the easiest.