Nexteck or Nexx Tech

Victim Location 19711

Total money lost $1,300

Type of a scam Counterfeit Product

I responded to a pop-up on my computer when I was online that said it was from "Microsoft" and that my computer was hacked and in danger and I should phone a number provided. On the phone, they managed to sell me a one-year service contract for $130. When I asked the company’s actual name, they said it was NexxTech LLC and was located in Buffalo, NY. Almost a year later they phoned again.This company seems to prey upon seniors and in my case told me that now, because of the Equifax breach, as a home user I was required to have an IP blocker for home users and that if I didn’t immediately buy it from them for $1300 they would shut down my computer, rendering it inoperable. I said I didn’t want to buy it right then. They then did immediately shut down my computer. I now realize that I should have unplugged the computer to break the connection they had to it. But at the time I was afraid they really had US government authority to shut me down if I didn’t get the ID blocker. So I paid the $1300, payable to a company they called Heal PC.com, and they "fixed" my computer.

Afterward, I thought to call Apple Care (I had thought I would not be eligible to receive help from Apple Care because my Apple computer was out of warranty, but I didn’t know what else to do, so tried them.) The Apple Care technician explained that the information the company had told me was false–that they could not have accessed my IP address, which they claimed to have accessed and found to be compromised. The Apple Care technician checked my computer for malware and said the fraudulent company had not installed any malware themselves and that their type of scam generally did not install anything; rather their goal was to sell you (fake) software, which is apparently what has happened to me.

I will file a dispute with my bank as soon as the charges for the "IP blocker" appear in my account and hope I will get the money back. Meanwhile, the Apple Care technician advised me to report my experience to the FCC and the BBB.

I would like to point out that other victims seem to have complained about similar treatment from this company on online sites, such as:

https://reportscam.com/nexttechonlineus/. This person’s experience was similar to mine.