I would further like to hold Elite IT and FBMSCOM to account for their seeming involvement in this sordid matter as I outline here from my documents record:
Several months ago I placed an online order with Amazon.com.
Within hours I received a call from someone saying he represented a computer service outfit saying I had been hacked and, therefore, needed computer security. I stated that I believe I had security protection with the firm that was doing my routine laptop servicing.
He stated that someone had just ordered a $1200 gift card, among other things, on my Amazon account. His "proof" was to tell me to look at my credit union online statement, which he was able to produce, and I would see it. I did so and, indeed, it appeared to be there, as he said.
I asked why he was calling me and not Amazon. He stated that he is at Amazon.
He asked who was doing my routine servicing. I said it was Elite IT Home. He said Elite is no longer operating and that they had gone bankrupt! Here again, he provided some "documentation", via my computer, that it was the case.
Being thus alarmed I stupidly committed to a $1000 "fix" to avoid such a disaster and I immediately saw that the $1200 debit was gone and breathed a sigh of relief. Shortly I saw an invoice show up on my laptop for $1000.00 from Deltron Support, LLC in Naples, FL and a similar debit on my Red Rocks statement which I routinely access on my laptop. The Deltron Support invoice further bothered me.
In relating the foregoing to my son he informed me that I had been hacked. He took me and my Apple Mac to an area Apple store where a technician informed me that I didn’t need the servicing Elite IT was charging me for.
I called Elite IT with that information, had Red Rocks void my VISA debit card and therefore obtained a new one. Subsequently I received phone messages from Elite IT informing me that the latest charges for their services were not honored by my financial institution and that I needed to address the problem. So, it wasn’t sufficient to tell Elite IT that I had been advised I didn’t need their services.
The Elite IT technician, Ronnie, called me more than once promoting their security protection. I resisted his sales pitch because of the aforementioned.
Subsequently I received a phone call from a credit union representative saying they had been made aware that I was having some difficulty relative to needing computer security, wondering if I had resolved the issue and invited me to return the call. I did so and it became evident that Elite IT, probably Ronnie, had called to complain that I was resisting purchasing their security and that I was in desperate need of it. It would seem his call was an attempt to bring pressure to bear on the credit union for them to effect the purchase from me. I had never informed Ronnie of my banking institution nor its phone number. So it seems Ronnie did a bit of hacking of my laptop himself.
I called Elite IT (1-888-332-9581) on 5/3/’17 and spoke with Ronnie. I posed a number of questions to him relative to the above concerns. I asked where they were located, expecting to hear Orem, UT but heard, first...New York, then...Baltimore! I got nowhere with him as English is obviously not his first language and he therefore speaks with a pronounced accent which I can’t understand well enough. In fact, I believe there was some degree of obfuscation of his voice to make it so. I did understand his denial of ever having called my credit union. His explanation was that it was someone else who had made such a call. He repeatedly stated he can “fix” my computer.
On or about May 9 I received a phone call asking me if I remember having made a purchase for $999.99. I asked if he was calling from Deltron Support. The caller gave an enthusiastic “Yes” and told me to turn on my computer (presumably to “service” it). I declined to do so, further stating that I learned he had scammed me. His voice and accent sounded suspiciously like “Ronnie”. He denied it and again, twice more, told me to turn on my computer. At that point I hung up. However, now having the phone number where the call originated, a few days later I decided to place a call there. From the recorded phone message I learned I had reached Cypress Meadows Apartments but I don’t know its location.
Later, I received the following Email from Elite IT: “Failure to keep your account current will result in suspension of the protection on your computer. We are still maintaining the licensing for the programs on your computer. Please be advised that those are our programs and running them without paying to maintain your account may constitute theft. Additionally, any open cases for your account will be placed on hold until your account is current.”
Some days later I received a phone message seeking my account number and routing number, even showing (on CapTel) how to find them on my check. That was an obvious no-no to me.
Late last week I received in the mail a bill for $119.97 as my unpaid bill. On Friday I received their phone call to which I responded that I was advised by Apple that I didn’t need the Elite IT product. Before I finished my comment the caller hung up.