Web Desk
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will distribute over $25 million this week to customers deceived into paying for fake tech support services offered by two Cyprus-based companies, Restoro Cyprus Limited and Reimage Cyprus Limited.
The payments stem from a settlement both companies agreed to last year following an FTC investigation.
How the Scam Operated
According to Samuel Levine, former director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, the companies used “scare tactics and lies” to generate tens of millions of dollars.
Restoro and Reimage targeted computer owners — many of them elderly — by falsely creating the appearance of severe security threats on their devices.
They misled victims into believing their computers were infected with viruses, pressuring them to pay for unnecessary repairs.
The scam often began with fake Microsoft Windows pop-up warnings, claiming the device was compromised and urging users to “scan” it to prevent further damage.
The FTC explained that these fake scans would always show critical computer issues — regardless of whether any real problems existed — and claim that Restoro and Reimage software could fix them.
Customers paid between $27 and $58 for the software and were given a number to “activate” it. However, when they called, telemarketers pushed additional services, sometimes insisting that only a technician — whose services cost hundreds of dollars — could resolve their computer’s “serious” issues.
One victim shared their experience on Reddit, saying they initially agreed to pay around $40 to fix a problem but were later told that additional repairs would cost $200 to $300.
After refusing the extra charges, they ended the call, only to be repeatedly harassed with follow-up calls.
A local repair shop later confirmed there were no real issues with the computer, contradicting Restoro’s claims.
Details About the Refunds
The FTC will issue the settlement payments on March 13 and 14, sending 736,375 refunds via PayPal.
Eligible customers will receive an email between Monday and Thursday with instructions to claim their portion of the $25.5 million settlement.
The FTC urges recipients to redeem their payments within 30 days.
For further information, individuals can visit the FTC’s official website or contact Rust Consulting, Inc., the payment administrator, at (844) 590-1102.
