AnyTech 365 Scam? Search for information.

Anonymous
2021-04-23T10:03:34+00:00

Hello

Working in IT myself I got a couple of reports during the last year about a quite interesting "thing" (I think it's some kind of scam scheme) called "AnyTech 365". It's not your "typical" Microsoft phone call scam but something quite a bit more sophisticated.

Interestingly there is/was only very limited information available on line.

The "thing" (suspected scam) goes like this:

Inexperienced users get prompted with misleading information (probably in the form of advertisement they don't recognize a such) which leads them to download some shady "pc repair software" (the name "Restoro" came up a couple of times). Once they run this software they are asked to contact a "support company" called AnyTech365. The people from AnyTech365 then try to sell them an expensive & long-running subscription for support services, usually costing a couple of hundred dollars (one "victim" reported that they even paid several thousand dollars).

Now the thing is: This company AnyTech365 which is located in Spain acts like a reputable business. So it's not some unknown Indian call center that disappears after a few weeks. They are registered and seem to be in for the long run - giving the impression of a "real" IT service provider. Just that their customers don't seem to become customers "voluntarily" but through very misleading sales practices.

At least this is what it looks like after gathering information from a couple of "victims".

Since there wasn't much information about this (suspected) scam scheme available I posted a similar thread like this in the German language Microsoft Community Forums in December. This lead to reports from more people who felt that they were scammed by AnyTech365 and also to a recation from a public relations person from Any Tech 365 who of course was claiming that they are a legitimate company. (However that person also referred to a certification agency called "App Esteem" which seems to be specialised in the "fake" certifictaion of very shady software - so we probably have to assume that a company that gets certidication from "App Esteem" is probably shady too.)

Anyway, since AnyTech365 seems to be active in a lot of languages & countries I thought that I also post this here in the English speaking community.

So we might get a bigger audience and can gather more information about this suspected scam.

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Security and privacy

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  1. Anonymous
    2021-09-11T13:35:17+00:00

    Long story. My Canon5050 was coming up with an error message not connected to a driver so I searched for a solution. Came across a site 'PChelpsoft Driver updater'. Being in a rush to use my printer I paid around £50 for the software. I installed and ran a scan which revealed several drivers needed updating. I duly updated but printer still not connecting to a driver. Meantime, I received a text from PC Helpsoft saying 'If you need to activate your software call us free'. I called the number, waited 30 minutes and finally got through to a technician, Joshua. He was very helpful and spent a LONG time remotely accessing my computer. At one time he advised he would ring off while he investigated issues further. He called me back and advised he had found over 400 issues and would pass me through to another technician who would resolve problems, but it became clear this would not be free. He then proceeded to talk me through a list of advantages of signing up to AnyTech 365 - 3 levels of service ranging from around £299 for 6 months subscription to around £499. I told him that as I am a pensioner I would go for the lowest cost service but as I was thinking about it alarm bells sounded - why would I pay upfront for a 'service' I have never heard of? Joshua then took me to a page which required my bank details and explained that he would come out of the remote access while I entered my details. At which point I logged out and hung up. He called me straight back and the number came up as 'potential scam' . Which I firmly believe it is. I'm 73 and not smart enough to fix the issue with my printer but smart enough not to hand over my bank details willy nilly. Please beware everyone! Both of PChelp soft and AnyTech 645. Incidentally, to add insult to injury I'm still unable to print!

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  2. Anonymous
    2021-09-08T05:49:46+00:00

    You do realize that this is a thread that's trying to help exactly the kind of people who are vulnerable to this kind of scam?

    Irony which they can mistake for your actual opinion isn't going to help this discussion.

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  3. Anonymous
    2021-09-07T23:21:36+00:00

    Trolling??? Seriously. I'd have gone with "Irony" it's something wasted on the truly gifted, much like thinking one can pay Taxes with gift cards. Best

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  4. Anonymous
    2021-09-07T20:07:19+00:00

    Don't derail the discussion with weird ideas about a "real" and a "fake" AnyTech. There's only one relevant AnyTech365 and most of the available information indicates that they are scammers.

    I guess you are trolling anyway... having to pay the IRS with gift cards... if you really believe any of that you need help immediately.

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  5. Anonymous
    2021-09-07T17:09:13+00:00

    Ditto, I had a similar experience. That lead me to finding this forum, and subscribing to this thread, which . . . .

    unfortunately (or fortunately) seems to reveal at least to me, the extent of the problem(s). Looks like there may be both a "reputable" company or group trying to operate under the rubric/name of "ANYTECH 365" on which there's either an incompetent billing department or bunch of scam artists pirating the name or Trademark. If AnyTech 365 Premium was as good as the "positive" reviewers in this thread claim the service is, one would think they'd be able to "tech suport" the pirates out of business?

    Has anyone actually called the posted "Helpline Number" +1 914 266-9522 or run any kind of google or phone number search on it? If so, what were/was the experience?

    I'd go on, but I've got calls stacked from Rachel from Card Services and I need to get to Target to purchase a boat load of gift cards to pay off the IRS and get the FBI off the arrest warrants. Still waiting to hear back from Social Security - apparently SSA doesn't like Target, I think they only use WallMart gift cards for payments etc.

    Cheers

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