Extortion of name and address : new MBS tactics?

[paul]

Got pop-ups at weekend - not wanting a sum of money, just saying that I need to ring them to stop the pop-ups.
I rang on Monday, again no real money demand, but they said the only way to get rid of pop-ups is if they send me free software.
To do that of course they need your name & address. Once they have that they probably might stop the pop-ups, but then they can start posting bills, final demands, threats of court and bailiffs.
Are these new tactics, or have they always done it like this ?

[paul]

(continuing) Has anyone been threatened with, or been taken to court by them ?

[ForumFriend]

Paul, this is the first time I've heard them act in this way.  Yes, it does seem to be a ploy to make sure they can enforce any (and there will be!) demand for money.  I am assuming you didn't disclose any personal identifiers, such as your name and/or your address.

Did you go onto any of their websites?  Did you intend to go onto their websites?  If you didn't, and do not feel that any payment is due them,  then look around to decide what you want to do.

Where no personal details have been given, there have, as far as I'm aware, been no follow ups for payment, just the wretched pop ups until these are removed.  And you shouldn't need their 'software' to do that.

I seem to remember reading the odd posting from people who have received threats, but am not aware of anyone being taken to court.  Frankly, I don't think they'd want their billing methods put to the test in such a public arena, but that is just a personal opinion.

[paul]

Or is this sending of the uninstall software some new thing they have to do to keep legal ?
Surely in the past many victims have paid the bill and then MBS stop the pop-up blocks from their end, but their trojan will thereafter be still active in the computer.

Can anyone briefly explain how what they do is legal ?
To what levels have efforts been made to counter what they do?

Thanks for this forum, it must make a lot of very angry/worried people feel better.
 

[ForumFriend]

MBS cannot uninstall their software remotely, from what I gather.  The procedure has always been that, once 'bills' are paid up, they will send out the software to uninstall.  However, that hasn't always happened.

From the complaints of many other victims, I feel fairly confident in my assertion that this new way of approaching it - i.e. via a pop up 'offering' the removal software - is just a way of drawing people further into the web.  After all, to be sent the software you have to reveal your address.  It's that simple.  And MBS know that a lot of people are removing their software with help from others, but without resorting to contact with MBS.  This is bad news for them, for every victim lost in this way is a loss of revenue to them.

The legality of their business method is questioned by many.  Because what they are doing is a relatively new development, current legislation doesn't adequately cover the consumer in this instance.  If you read more on this forum and elsewhere, you will see that many people have been attacked by MBS software, yet haven't personally downloaded anything from any of the sites they serve.  The key to their methodology is to shame people into paying, regardless of whether or not they have visited any of these sites, because of the nature of the content of the sites.  Their activities and their methods are deeply unpleasant.

Many complaints have been made to Trading Standards, also the Office of Fair Trading.  I have been in touch with my MP as, I think, have others.  I, incidentally, was not directly a victim of the MBS way, but a family member was, and it caused a great deal of distress.

MBS claim that their methods will now be extending into other areas, through other suppliers.  It will be interesting to see how  quickly legislation may then appear to address the issues it raises.  In the US, a similar business method has been effectively outlawed.  The UK has been extremely slow and unresponsive to the problem, in spite of articles in the Guardian and on BBC Radio 4's 'You and Yours' programme.  It seems that the taint of porn has made the lawmakers avert their eyes from the issue.  The directors of MBS have also been pretty aggressive in the defence of their business, either through their lawyers or by manipulating existing instruments to protect themselves.  It is all pretty ghastly.

But, don't be deterred by this.  Please do take whatever steps you can to complain or otherwise raise the matter to, e.g., the police, Trading Standards, your MP, etc.  And if you have access to anyone who may be able to offer more practical help through, e.g. the courts, perhaps you could explore such options.  There would be many forum members who would, I'm sure, offer whatever support they could.

[paul]

Thanks for this.
Guess you are right, it's scary that their expansion might be our best hope for their downfall.
Here's hoping they start picking on some influential people in high places.