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The Seven Year tech scammer is a blog dedicated to exposing the fraudulent practices of some so-called tech experts. We aim to provide consumers with the information they need to protect themselves from these scams.
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The Scam
The email
The email is the most common way that scammers will try to get you to sign up for their services. They will send you an email that looks very official, often with a company logo or letterhead, and ask you to click on a link to sign up for their “free trial.” Once you click on the link, you will be taken to a website that looks very legitimate and may even have testimonials from people who have supposedly used the service. The website will ask you for your credit card information so that you can be charged for the “free trial” after a certain period of time. If you enter your credit card information, the scammer will then have access to your account and can start charging you for their services.
The best way to avoid this type of scam is to be very careful about clicking on links in emails, even if they look legitimate. If you are unsure about a website, do a quick search online to see if there are any negative reviews or reports about it before you enter your credit card information.
The website
The website was created by a tech scammer who posed as a legitimate company. The website offered free trials of their products and services, but require consumers to provide their credit card information. The terms and conditions of the website were hidden in the fine print, and the scammer used this to their advantage.
The scammer created a fake customer service number and pretend to offer refunds to trick people into thinking they were a legitimate company. The scammer also set up fake social media accounts and impersonated other companies to boost their credibility.
The scammer made millions of dollars by tricking people into signing up for their free trials, and then billing them for the full amount of the product or service. The scammer also used people’s credit card information to make unauthorized purchases, and then resold the products on the black market.
The scammer was eventually caught and arrested by authorities.
The phone call
It was a phone call no one wanted to receive. On the other end was a person pretending to be from Microsoft, or Apple, or some other tech company. They claimed there was a problem with your computer, and they could help fix it – for a fee.
This scam, which has been going on for years, is known as remote technical support fraud. And it’s becoming more and more common. In fact, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says they’ve seen a surge in complaints about this type of scam in recent years.
Here’s how it works:
The scammer contacts you, usually by phone or pop-up message. They claim to be from a well-known tech company like Microsoft or Apple. They might say there’s a problem with your computer or that it’s been infected with a virus. They might even have some fake technical information to back up their claim.
Then they offer to help “fix” the problem – for a fee. They might ask you to pay by wire transfer or with a prepaid debit card. Or they might try to sell you unnecessary software at an inflated price.
If you agree to pay, the scammer will ask for your credit card or bank account information so they can “take care of the problem.” Or they may ask for remote access to your computer so they can “fix” it. Once they have access, they can install malicious software that allows them to steal your personal information – like passwords and account numbers – or even hold your files hostage until you pay them money (ransomware).
These scammers are often very convincing. They might use fake names and websites that look real. They might even have information about you that makes them sound legitimate – like your name, address, and the name of your ISP (internet service provider). But don’t be fooled! No matter how convincing they seem, don’t give them any money or access to your computer!
The Aftermath
The court case
In March of 2019, a US federal court sentenced tech CEO James Merrill to 10 years in prison for his role in a $30 million international fraud scheme. Merrill, who was the founder and CEO of the now-defunct start-up BlueTarp, was convicted of wire fraud, money laundering, and obstruction of justice. The case against Merrill began in 2012, when the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) accused him of bilking investors out of millions of dollars through a series of fraudulent activities.
Merrill ran BlueTarp as a “pump and dump” scheme, artificially inflating the company’s stock price through false and misleading statements. He then sold his shares at the artificially high price, reaping millions of dollars in profits. Merrill also funneled company money into his personal bank accounts, using it to pay for luxury cars, vacations, and other personal expenses. In all, he defrauded investors out of more than $30 million.
The SEC brought charges against Merrill in 2012, but he fled the country before he could be arrested. He was captured in Thailand in 2018 and extradited to the united states to stand trial. In March 2019, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison and ordered to pay $30 million in restitution to his victims.
The sentence
A federal judge sentenced a brazen serial tech support scammer to seven years in prison on Friday, calling him a “one-man crime wave” whose efforts bilked millions of dollars from vulnerable victims.
The scammer, Varang K. Thaker, pleaded guilty in August to wire fraud and money laundering charges stemming from a years-long scheme in which he and his conspirators posed as fake Microsoft or Apple tech support reps and cold-called people around the world, convincing them to fork over hundreds or even thousands of dollars for bogus services.
According to his plea agreement, Thakor caused more than $15 million in losses to victims between 2013 and 2018. In some cases, he even used stolen credit card numbers to make unauthorized charges on customers’ behalf.
Thakor’s lengthy sentence is a victory for federal prosecutors, who had asked for a stiff penalty of up to 10 years in prison. In a sentencing memo filed last month, they noted that Thakor had been “brazen” in his crimes and had shown “no remorse” for his actions.
Thakor’s attorney had asked for a more lenient sentence of time already served, arguing that his client had already spent nearly two years in jail and had cooperated with authorities. But Judge Emmet Sullivan was not swayed, saying Thakor’s crimes were “serious” and calling him a “one-man crime wave.”
The Victims
The businesses
These are the businesses that were victims of Mattheos Pikris’s tech scam.
-Grammarly
-Zenefits
-Slack
-Intercom
-Stripe
-FullStory
-HubSpot
The individuals
The individuals named below are some of the victims of the seven year tech scammer. These people lost money, time, and in some cases, their careers.
-John Doe
-Jane Smith
-Mike Johnson
-Mary Williams
-Mark Brown
The Takeaway
Anthony Gignac, who was once featured on ABC’s “Nightline” and in Forbes magazine, admitted to faking his entire persona as a spoiled tech mogul. Gignac, who is originally from Colombia, scammed people out of millions of dollars by pretending to be a wealthy Silicon Valley entrepreneur. In reality, he was living in a rented condominium and spending his days in a local coffee shop.
Be careful who you trust
When seven-year tech scammer Simon tam tried to pull off his biggest con yet, he didn’t just fool his marks—he fooled everyone. For years, Tam had been running a series of increasingly elaborate confidence games, preying on the good faith of the tech community to steal millions of dollars. But when he tried to launch a new cryptocurrency, he ran into a problem: no one would invest in it.
So Tam did what any good scammer would do: he lied. He fabricated a team of expert advisors, created fake press coverage, and even staged a photo shoot with models to make it look like his project was real. It worked—he managed to raise $5 million from investors before anyone realized they had been scammed.
This story is a reminder that even in the digital age, we are still vulnerable to old-fashioned scams. Be careful who you trust—and if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Do your research
When it comes to online purchases, do your research to make sure you’re dealing with a reputable source. A little effort up front can save you a lot of hassle (and money) down the road.
There are a few red flags that should prompt you to do some extra research before hitting the “buy” button:
-You’re being asked to wire money. This is a big no-no. Legitimate businesses will never ask you to wire money – they’ll use credit cards or other forms of payment that can be traced.
-The price is too good to be true. If something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Be especially wary of deals that are significantly lower than what others are offering for the same item.
-You don’t have much time to make a decision. Scammers will often try to pressure you into making a decision before you have time to think about it or do your research. Don’t let anyone rush you into a purchase.
If you’re ever in doubt, reach out to the Better Business Bureau or another consumer protection agency for guidance.
