Mohammed Khalid Jamil, 34, from Luton, the man behind a successful Microsoft computer scam, was handed a four-month suspended sentence.
Specialist e-crime investigators from National Trading Standards Team along with police fraud experts from Redcar and Cleveland’s trading standards have brought the infamous scammer before the court who tricked Microsoft customers into paying for free anti-virus software.
“We believe it may be the first ever successful prosecution of someone involved in the Microsoft scam in the UK,” said Lord Harris, National Trading Standards Board chairman, in a statement.
“It’s an important turning point for UK consumers who have been plagued by this scam, or variants of it, for several years. Many have succumbed to it, parting with significant sums of money, their computers have been compromised and their personal details have been put at risk.”
Trading standards officials said Jamil was sentenced to four months imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, and fined £5,000 after a hearing at York Crown Court. Jamil was also ordered to pay £5,665 compensation and £13,929 in prosecution costs.
Jamil with his fake start-up SmartSupportGuys, outsourced calling efforts to Indian call centers. Jamil employed people to pose as Microsoft certified engineers. Victims, who were cold-called, were told their computers to have a serious fault and would crash.
The target was for any amount around £35 and £150, and also scammers to be given remote access. The fraudsters then installed the anti-virus software that Microsoft provides for free. Over 400 people from across the UK initially complained about the scam.
Jamil confessed unfair trading by allowing his staff to make false claims as Microsoft engineers regarding computer support services. He also stated that he had failed in controlling call centre staff without adequately supervising them.
