Netcom3 Global, Inc.

Agency: Federal Trade Commission (FTC)Washington~Description: ~

~ On November 10 2014 the Federal Trade Commission filed a Complaint against PC Cleaner Inc. ("PC Cleaner") dba's PC Cleaner Pro and Netcom3 Global Inc. The FTC charges that PC Cleaner violated the FTC Act the Telemarketing Sales Rule ("TSR") and the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act ("FDUTPA") by conning thousands of consumers out of more than $120 million by deceptively marketing computer software and tech support services. According to the Complaints filed by the FTC since 2012 PC Cleaner used software PC Cleaner Pro designed to trick consumers into thinking there are problems with their computers then subjected those consumers to high-pressure deceptive sales pitches for tech support products and services to fix non-existent computer problems. PC Cleaner hooked consumers by offering free trials of PC Cleaner Pro or free scans of consumers' computers to identify potential problems. The FTC charges that each scan starts with computer software that purports to enhance the security or performance of consumers' computers. Consumers then download a free trial version of software that always identifies numerous errors on consumers' computers regardless of whether the computer has any performance problems. The software then tells consumers that in order to fix the identified errors they will have to purchase the paid version of the software. After consumers purchase the full version of the software at a cost of $29 to $49 the software directs them to call a toll-free number to activate the software. According to the FTC the telemarketers tell consumers that in order to activate the software they just purchased they must provide the telemarketers with remote access to their computers. The telemarketers then launch into a scripted sales pitch that includes showing consumers various screens on their computers and falsely claiming that these screens show signs that consumers' computers have significant damage. After convincing consumers that their computers need immediate help the telemarkters then pitch security software and tech support services that cost as much as $500.  

~ At the request of the FTC and the State of Florida a federal court has temporarily shut down the operations of PC Cleaner and temporarily freezes their assets and places the business under the control of a court-appointed receiver. The FTC and the State of Florida ask the court the enter a permanent injunction to prevent future violations of the FTC Act TSR and FDUTPA and award relief to consumers in the form of restitution rescission or reformation of contracts and the refund of monies paid. The court signed the temporary restraining orders on November 12 2014.

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