Tech support scammer actually caught, gets slap on wrist

Parmit Singh Brar is a telemarketeer who bilked elderly Americans out of millions by running a "calling about your Windows" tech support scam. He'll have to pay $136,000 in fines to the FTC--and may never offer tech support again. Behold the merciless justice of the federal authorities.

Under the settlement, Brar - who operated Genius Technologies and Avangatee Services and does not admit or deny the allegations, according to court documents - "is permanently restrained and enjoined from advertising, marketing, promoting, or offering for sale, or assisting in the advertising, marketing, promoting, or offering for sale of Technical Support Services."

The settlement was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California in San Francisco, and must still be signed by that court's judge.

Phone-scamming seniors is and will remain a lucrative line of work in America, for those whose stomach for it. Fortunately for them, they can count the relevant regulators in that group.