AUSTIN (CN) - A Texan is bilking the public by selling useless "software" that he claims will "repair and prevent registry errors on consumers' personal computers," state prosecutors say. James McCreary of The Woodlands pushes the bogus "RegistryCleanerXP" through his companies, Alpha Red and Branch Software, prosecutors say in Travis County Court.
Prosecutors say the product does not even scan a computer properly, and gives the same result for every computer.
McCreary offers a "Free Scan" on his Web site, then uses false results to tell suckers they need to pay $40 for a product that does not actually fix any registry errors or "improve a computer's speed, eliminate computer crashes, or optimize the computer's internet connection," according to the complaint.
The state seeks a permanent injunction, fines of $100,000 for each violation of the Spyware Act and fines of $20,000 for each violation of the Deceptive Trade Practices Act.
Read the Top 8
Sign up for the Top 8, a roundup of the day's top stories delivered directly to your inbox Monday through Friday.
Additional Reads
-
Terms of Use May 2, 2023 -
Software Executives Indicted in Fraudulent $11B Acquisition November 29, 2018
-
-
Heroin Sold Online, DEA Says in Bust August 16, 2016