If you purchased a computer repair service from Restoro or Reimage, a refund is on the horizon. The two companies have agreed to pay over million to settle allegations that they misled consumers into subscribing to their services. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced on Monday that it is preparing to distribute .5 million to those affected, following a lawsuit filed against the companies in 2024.
Settlement Details
According to the FTC, more than 700,000 consumers in the United States, particularly older adults, were ensnared by this deceptive scheme. The companies falsely claimed that users’ computers were plagued with issues, including viruses, through misleading pop-up ads that offered fraudulent antivirus scans. These ads suggested that users’ PCs were already compromised by malware.
As part of its investigation, the FTC purchased services from both Restoro and Reimage, encountering the fabricated antivirus alerts firsthand. Telemarketers from these companies also recommended costly “repair plans,” with prices reaching as high as 9. Last year, Restoro and Reimage reached a settlement with the FTC.
The FTC has announced that it will issue 736,375 payments via PayPal to eligible consumers on March 13 and 14. Those who qualify for a refund will receive an email notification prior to March 13, and it is advised that recipients redeem their payments within 30 days. The expected median refund amount is .
Future Implications
As part of the settlement, both Restoro and Reimage are now prohibited from misrepresenting security or performance issues related to the sale, marketing, or distribution of any product or service. They are also barred from engaging in deceptive telemarketing practices. Notably, the websites for Restoro and Reimage have been taken offline.
This case serves as a cautionary tale about the prevalence of tech support scams, which frequently target consumers with fake antivirus alerts and misleading internet advertisements. For those concerned about potential malware infections on their Windows PCs, it is advisable to consider utilizing a free antivirus solution, such as Microsoft Defender, which is built into the operating system.
