pccare247 PC Care247, PC Care + , PC Care Deceptive Practices, Not Tech Help At All, Try To Convince You That You've Been Hacked, Then Use Strong Arm Tactics To Try To Bully You Into Buying $399.00 "Protection" FromThem! Harrison, New York

My computer was infected with a virus that disabled all of my Anti-Virus programs, and slowed my computer down to a crawl. It also disabled my ability to restore my system to an earlier date, or to add or remove programs from my computer!

I attempted to purchase an upgrade to my free Avast Anti-virus program (Excellent Program, never been an issue!), but download failed several times. Trying not to panic, I googled (specifically) Avast Tech Customer Service, and called the # listed 1st in the list, #855-464-3074.

The woman that answered spoke with such a thick Indian accent, I could not be certain if she did, or did not, identify herself as an employee of Avast specifically, but she did indicate she was Technical Support, and asked me to identify my problem.

After explaining my dilemma, she told me she would have to connect to my computer remotely, so that she could correctly identify the root of the problem. Still believing this was a Tech with Avast, I granted her permission, and she took control of my computer.

After zooming all over my screen with a red highlighter, she showed me about a zillion supposedly fatal errors in my system, as well as informing me  my computer had been HACKED by International Evil Doers that were no doubt stealing my passwords, my banking and credit Info, as well as committing crimes such as embezzlement and blackmail the world over, even as we spoke! Of course, for a mere $399.00, she could GUARANTEE to fix all my computer woes, and save me from these evil-dinkies not for a year, not for ten years, but for a LIFETIME!

Alarmed, and now extremely suspicious that this was NOT a real employee of Avast, but at the very least an unscrupulous salesperson, or at worst, the actual HACKER, I confronted her to prove she was who she said she was, and asked for whom she actually worked? She became very belligerent and defensive, and brought up the pccare247 website, and the drop down menus of all the companies they supposedly provide Tech Support for.

Sure enough, Avast was indeed listed, but I was not convinced she was legit, as she had become quite rude, grilling me as to why I was wasting our time arguing, when Hackers were stealing my information while I hesitated to give her my credit card info to make the $399.00 purchase immediately! Did I want to be held responsible for criminal acts that were being committed in my name and with my ISP address, that I would be held accountable for?

At this point I told her that I would never, ever make a purchase from her, and insisted she end her connection to my PC as soon as she gave me her employee # and her full name. Who knows if she gave me her real info (I doubt it), but I gave it a shot.

Eventually, I got hold of a REAL Tech from Avast, and he was absolutely wonderful, and resolved my issue completely. My concern is for others, who may be either not as computer savvy, or that are so frightened or intimidated by these SCARE tactics and BULLYING, that they actually give up their credit information to purchase what is most likely worthless software, for no legitimat reason whatsoever!

Please, especially if there is a language barrier, ask the person on the other end of the phone to clearly identify the REAL company they represent. Then if your problem resolution issue turns into a SALES PITCH, run the other way!