The changes will take effect on July 1, 2023.

Introduction

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has taken a significant step in safeguarding consumers from the growing threat of tech support scams. These scams have become increasingly prevalent, with millions of Americans falling victim to them each year. The FTC’s proposed amendments to the Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR) aim to provide clearer guidance and stricter enforcement to combat these scams.

What are Tech Support Scams? Tech support scams are a type of telemarketing scam where scammers pose as representatives of a well-known technology company, such as Microsoft or Apple, and claim that the consumer’s computer or device is infected with malware or viruses. The scammer then offers to fix the issue for a fee, often using high-pressure sales tactics to convince the consumer to pay.

The new rule will take effect on January 3, 2024.

The Rise of Scam Calls

The number of scam calls targeting consumers has skyrocketed in recent years, with the FTC reporting over 50 million scam calls in 2022 alone.

The Impact of the New Rule on Technical Support Services

The Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) new rule on technical support services aims to provide clarity and protection for consumers. The rule defines technical support services as any plan, program, software, or service marketed to repair, maintain, or improve the performance or security of a device. This definition encompasses a wide range of services, including:

The FTC hopes that this new rule will help curb deceptive tactics used by scammers. These scammers often target consumers with fake technical support services, claiming that their device is infected with malware or that it needs urgent repair.

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