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Forum Discussion
softtree scam
I just spent 45 minutes with a "tech" person trying to set up my extender as I have a new U-verse network. This person was IN my computer. I followed a netgear.com link. He goes through all these com...
I find it amazing that people still fall for this scam tactic considering this tactic has been going on for over 15 years now.
Always use the official phone number from the manufactures website not from a search engine.
Never let someone remote into your computer unless you 100% trust that person (but lets be honest, no one is 100% trust worthy when it comes to your personal details and financial data) or your running a VM with no personal data on that machine.
If this information is new to you; Welcome to the internet.
Here is a websiteI dug up some time ago about tech support scams.
I was also scammed by SoftTree. I came home from vacation and my husband told me our router wasn't working. I tried the usual fixes, then went online for recommendations. After all else failed, I called a number that appeared to be Netgear support. I had a few days of free support left on my new router, so expected no charge for the call. I, too, was told my router had been compromised and I needed to purchase additional firewall/security and with it would come extended free support. I asked specifically if I was dealing with Netgear and was told, "We are Netgear's partner that provides technical support for their products." I didn't know I was dealing with Softtree until after the deal was signed. I had to take my computer and router to a reputable repair shop to have it wiped, the operating system reloaded, and the router reset. Just so you know, thesofttree tries to look legitimate by mimicking the name of a company (Soft Tree) in California (they even call you back from a 323 number that says Los Angeles, CA on the caller ID) and a company in Canada (Softree). The company address is in Guelph, Ontario Canada and is a vacant lot (viewed on Google Earth). After a lot of digging, I found that the call center is in Marathahalli, India. I have filed a dispute with my credit card company, but SoftTree sent a "signed" contract (not the one they sent to me) and tacked on a customer satisfaction survey for good measure (they asked only if my device was working and if the tech was polite, but it said a who lot more), I need a response from Netgear again to prove that Softtree is not affiliated with Netgear or a partner in any way for the credit card company. I am filing consumer complaints with the FTC and my state's Attorney General and would recommend anyone who's been taken in by this scam do the same. P.S. When looking for contact info and refund policy on their website, I was constantly receiving Dolohen.com pop-ups (which redirect to adware and malicious sites). Luckily, I was not tricked this time.