How to tell if I have been scammed

madforcash

I had a problem with my printer on a go slow since getting a new pc running windows 8.1. I googled 'Epson Support' and a website came up with phone numbers which I believed were Epson. The man took remote control of my pc using the logmein123.com and proceeded to show me that I had downloaded some bad viruses onto my new computer and my anti-virus software (MacAfee livesafe 2015) was just a freebie thrown in at time of purchase but only offered some virus protection and wouldn't protect me if I banked online. He said that in order to update this would cost me £49 per year or I could let him install Windows Defender lifetime for a one off payment of £149.99 + VAT. He also said he would clear all the viruses off the pc and clean it up for an extra £49.99 + VAT. I accepted as I can't afford to have anything go wrong with my new pc. When it came to payment I wanted to use either a credit card or paypal but he said they couldn't accept those payments types and I had to BACS direct from my bank account to the account given - which I did. Later I googled Windows defender and C cleaner which he installed to find that they are free anyway. Also my printer issues did not work any better. I then looked back onto their website and realised they were not Epson as I first mistook but an independent tech company. I rang Epson who gave me a link to a driver for my printer which would make it work. I then rang the tech company back and asked why they had charged me for free products and told them I had just received a link from Epson for the driver I was missing. The guy said that he had added MacAfee total protection hence the price and just activated the Windows defender and C cleaner. He also asked to remotely control my computer to look at the link Epson had sent and proceeded to then install it for me - which did work but I could have done that myself. Still confused later that evening I asked my son who understands pc's a bit better than me if he could see whether MacAfee total protection was on the pc and he said it was had not been installed, and they had unistalled the MacAfee livesafe2015 that I did have installed. I tried ringing today to complain and was told to ring accounts on Monday to discuss a refund. Now I am convinced this is not a genuine company and that I have been scammed to the sum of £240 right before xmas. What should I do? I don't want to ring them back incase they ask for bank details to make a refund and they aren't genuine, but also how do I make a valid complaint if I am not prepared to give them the opportunity to refund or deal with my complaint first? Who would I make a complaint to? Thanks for any advice.

agrinnall

You have indeed been scammed. If they won't refund the money, which I suspect will be the case, then your only option will be to make a Small Claim against them - however, you may struggle with this as they have done work and installed software for you. Any business not accepting card payment should be viewed with some suspicion before deciding whether to proceed.

kwikbreaks

Whoever sold you that keyboard certainly conned you - there appears to be no return key on it.

danthemoneysavingman

you should've asked your son first! Would be the lesson from this.


Hope you get your money back but seems unlikely as you've probably been billed for the support time, which they have indeed given you.

debitcardmayhem

Sounds more likely that you binged not googled

Lumstorm

There are not legit they are criminals. Unfortunatley getting your money back is unlikely. It is also possible that the PC is now been compromised its a common scam to overcharge for free software and they may have installed malware while they had access such as a keylogger to get banking passwords and credit card details.

SnowTiger

debitcardmayhem wrote: »

Sounds more likely that you binged not googled

Perhaps. Bing throws up some adverts such as one for this website:

http://www.livepcexpert.com/epson-printer-support-0288.html:

In this era of technology, we a new technology is expected to come up every other day or even we can say, every other moment. Same is the case with printing technology, there has been a lot of inventions in this area of technology which have made it so easy and feasible that even a layman can make use of it. Epson printer is also a part of this ever growing printing technology and has earned quite a good space in the market.

Erm, what?

shopbot

I'd be really concerned that they've also installed Malware on your system.

A good first step would be to follow some of the advice on the Forum Stickies. Then use the Forum for any extra help you need. Don't pay for any further paid help yet. The Forum will be able to tell you if this is needed.

SB

madforcash

Thanks everyone for the helpful and not so helpful comments. I contacted my bank and asked them for a chargeback service. This is what you ask for if ever you believe you have been scammed. I have spoken to the criminal prevention team most of the day, and they have stopped the money within the scammers account. They seem to know about them but can't share any details with me. The last person I spoke to from the bank said my bank will be giving me a refund but this hasn't been issued yet.

Nodding_Donkey

Hardly scammed. Just an unwise and not very MSE purchase.

How can the bank possibly reverse a BACS transaction?

suicidebob

If you google 'Epson Support' the first dozen sites that come up are all official Epson sites.

You must have remarkable Googling skills.