About this page

First and foremost I am truly sorry I have to post this section on my web site.  It seems it's a necessary evil now.  Starting In the spring of 1999, I started to see way to many reports of some not so honest and nice people out there claiming to use the TPA Software name and TPA Software product names to benefit their own shady ways.  Basically it amounts to people writing password stealing Trojans and disguising them as TPA Software products.

These files are then sent via E-mail to unsuspecting people, then those people download the file thinking its a legitimate file from TPA Software.  Well, let me say this again...really loud:

TPA SOFTWARE, ITS PARTNERS, ASSOCIATES AND STAFF WILL NEVER SEND FILES THROUGH E-MAIL.

If you receive an attachment via an E-mail, and you do not know who it is from, DO NOT DOWNLOAD IT.  Instead, forward that suspicious E-mail to TOSFILES.  If the file in question claims to be from TPA Software or carries any of the TPA Software product names, then please, you have my permission to forward the file to me so that I can take appropriate action against the spammer.

The purpose of this page is to inform everyone about the most recent E-Mail scams that come to light so that there are no mistakes and confusion.

Kevin Provance
TPA Software

January 06, 2001 - AOL-STER Scam

There is a scam floating around AOL that involves an AOL Add ON program that you have to purchase before you can use it.  That is not how shareware works.  Shareware is "try before you buy".  The person running the AOL-STER scam wants 19.95 up front.  Here is the scam letter, which by the way, this person had the audacity to send to me personally (the spelling errors are as they originally appeared):

===============Begin scam letter==================

Subj: (¨`·(¨`·(¨`·(¨`·(¨`· AOL-STER ·´¨)·´¨)·´¨)·´¨)·´¨)
Date: 1/5/01 1:30:09 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: xxxxxxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx
To: kevin@tpasoft.com

Get the Fun Out Of AOL That You Deserved! 

Greeting AOL user,

My name is John Moors and I am very excited to introduce to the incredible AOL-STER. This is just the "ticket" you need whenever you sign on. With this incredible add-on program, you will be able to take control and have fun with AOL because you deserved it!

If you are tired of having AOL logging you off because you did not click on "Yes, I wish to be remain online" when that little window pops up every ten minutes or so. Say no more to that annoying window. You will not have to worry anymore about leaving your computer unattended while you logged on to AOL. No matter if you are surfing, leaving to take a breaks, go to restroom, out shopping or whatever that you're doing and then come back with AOL on and running! This mean you will be able to stay on AOL 25/7! Guaranteed!

Want more? The following are some of AOL-STER's features.

Room Bust: Works with AOL4.0, 5.0 & 6.0. This advanced feature is designed to make life on AOL a little bit easier for you, which mean you will be able to go into any full chat room. It comes with many chats room features for public, member, and private rooms. Also, Auto-Sender is a chat room link sender with lots of interesting features, and Auto-Mail Killer is a useful and unobtrusive AOL mail filter for junk mails like this one.

IM-Answering Machine/Away From Keyboard (AFK): Use this when you are away from your computer, it will log the entire message that AOL member instant message or talking to you in a chat room.

IM ON/OFF: This will allow you to turn your instant message off and on with just a click of a button. It is very useful when you don't want anyone to instant message you while you are surfing the net. This comes with options; you can put your friend(s) on an enable list to allow them to instant message you.

IM's Ignore: This feature will enable you to put any slected AOL member to be on the ignore list so that they will not be able to instant message (buddy invite or locate you if you're online). This is an excellent feature to use against those people that is bothering you.

IM Manipulator: This will send "fake IM" to someone. Use this to trick people into thinking you are somebody else.

Scrollers: AOL only allow certain limited message to be post into chat room. With this feature, you will be able to write and send unlimited messages in chat room. Plus, it has over 100's of cartoon graphics, which you can send into chat rooms to express your thoughts.

Mp3 Player: I don't see how anyone could NOT KNOW what a mp3 is, but if you don't know, it is CD QUALITY, (not near CDs quality) music for the computer. I have not bought a CDs in years, and not 'cus I'm cheap, I see NO DIFFERENT AT ALL! If you don't have any mp3s, go to "napster.com" and download 'the bum bum song', then open it with mp3 player. This player also plays wav files, midi, and winapl playlist files.

Staff Detector: Paranoid of a guide or catwatch busting you for doing 'illegal' activities on AOL like getting warez or bad mouth? Use this staff dectector to detect guide and catwatch. If a guide or a catwatch enters the room, it will close the room, then notify you.

Mass Mailer: This will allow you to send 100's of mails at the same time.

Mass IM: Will let you send 100''s of instant messages at the same time.

.............AND MUCH MUCH MORE!! (AOL-STER contained over 200 features)

AOL-STER is Windows® 95 & !
98, Windows® NT 4.0 compatible.

IF YOU NOT YET HAVE A COPY, GET YOUR COPY NOW!
Our products are backed by a 30-day money back guarantee.

Here is how to get your copy and what needs to be include with your order:

1). Tell use the version of AOL you are using.

2). Your e-mail address so we can email you your copy as soon as we receive your order, so you can use it right away!

3). Send $19.95 of either: Check or Money Order to:

Saksy
xxxx xxxxxx Road
xxxxxxxxxx, xx xxxxx

*We will send you your copy the same day we receive your order. We will email you your copy so you can download it and have it in use right away! Please don't forget your email address along with the order.


*This mail is never sent unsolicited. You are on our mailing list because either you or somebody for you has subscribed at one of our associated web sites or subscribed for an opt-in email list or sent use email or we have a previous online relationship. My apologies if you feel that you have received this message in error. This message is sent in compliance of the new mail bill section 301. Under bill S. 1618 Tittle III passed by the 105th U.S. Congress this message cannot be considered Spam as long as we include the way to be removed. Per Section 301 Paragraph (a)(2)(C) of S. 1618 further transmissions to you by the sender of this email may be stopped at no cost to you by sending a REMOVE message to xxxxx@xxxxx.com and your request to be removed will be processed within 30 days.

===============End scam letter===================

First of all, I checked out the domain name this individuals E-Mail address is supposed to originate from.  it is nothing more than a free web based E-Mail service.  Second, that paragraph about "this mail never sent unsolicited" is a bunch of crap.  It is justified by the "My apologies if you feel that you have received this message in error" line which implies I got the E-Mail by mistake, that it should have been sent to someone else.  Sure...whatever.  ;x

If you send this scam artist money, be prepared to lose it, because it is unlikely you will get anything in return.  And in the rare event that you do, it is probably a program that contained the most substandard programming there is, based on the spam letter.  My advice.  Delete it and move on.  :)

If you are the author of this program or this E-Mail, feel free to contact me.  You obviously have my E-Mail address.  <g>

November 13, 1999 - Terminator/Anti-Timer scam!!!

This scam was original posted back in 1999.  I am sorry to say that this piece of human garbage is still out there doing these exact same things to other people.

It has come to my attention that there is some worthless, lower than scum of the Earth, piece of garbage who goes by the name Chuck Mirna or Chuck Starr who is "spamming" the chat rooms with an advertisement for an anti-timer program.  He is charging people ten dollars for his program.  After he gets the ten dollars, he send the recipient the Terminator setup program...*our* Terminator setup program.

Put another way...he is taking people's money and sending them an unregistered version of our Terminator program, which can be used free for 15 days.  After that 15 days, the program requires registration with us, which is the legitimate registration.

Here is a copy of the E-Mail circulating:

===============Begin scam letter==================
Subj:    Re: AOL 5.0
Date:    10/16/1999 7:41:12 PM Pacific Daylight Time
From:    timer_killer@juno.com (john douglas)
To:   

MY NEW PROGRAM WORKS GREAT FOR AOL 5.0

CHUCK'S ANTI -TIMER ORDER FORM
                                         
PRINT AND MAIL TO:
Chuck Mirna
address removed
 
ONE ANTI TIMER @ $10.00 per program___________
E-MAIL ADDRESS___________________________@aol.com
REPEAT E-MAIL ADDRESS___________________ @aol.com

Please print your AOL email address 2 times.  I must be able to read it
to fill your order.

Remember that many numbers look like letters and vice versa.....
Please inform me if your substituting letters for numbers or numbers for
letters... Please print neatly.

The program and download instructions will be sent to the email
address you provide.  Orders are E-mailed as soon as they are received
through the mail.
 
SEND ORDER FORM AND $10.00 CASH, CHECK OR MONEY ORDER TO:

CHUCK MIRNA
address removed
*********************************************************************************************
===============End scam letter===================

Needless to say, people who have fallen for this scam have lost ten dollars to this guy.  Unfortunately, because I cannot police every single person in the world for dishonest activities I and/or TPA Software cannot be held responsible for what this guy is doing with my programs.  I have turned this matter over to my attorney for review and legal retaliation, but I cannot grant registration numbers or refunds to persons who fell prey to this Chuck Mirna fraud.   All you can do is report him to your attorney or to the Better Business Bureau.  In fact, if you are one of the people who fell prey to this cretin, I highly advise contacting your local BBB in person or on the phone and file a complaint immediately so they can shut this guy down.   Sadly, I can only do (and spend) so much to stop this guy.  Spread the word any means necessary that it is unwise at best to send away money for a program you did not get to try first.  That's not how shareware works.  Any person or company who wants money up front (sans retail) is probably a fraud.  All junk mail like this should be reported to AOL or deleted, or both!

I am truly sorry to all those who "Chuck" has swindled.  You can make a difference by reporting him to the BBB.

June 15,1999 - IMs Plus Scam

Thanks to everyone who reported this one to me.  Here is what it said:

===============Begin scam letter==================
Subj:    TPA Software presents....IM's Plus!
Date:    6/14/99 10:36:36 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From:    VFBC FAITH

Hi, my name is Michael. I work for TPA(http://www.tpasoft.com) software. We specialize in programs to make your stay at America Online easier. We have a new product called IM's Plus. It puts all your IMs in one easy, small window with a menu at the top to select which IM you want to use. It has many other features I am sure you'll love. If you love chats and have a lot of friends, this is the program for you. You get a 30 day FREE trial! And every time I give you a FREE download, I have a chance to earn commission. So please give it a try. I am positive you will absolutely LOVE this program. Just click the "Download Now" Button on the bottom of this E-mail. Or you can go to our website(http://www.TPAsoft.com) if for some reason you can not download. Be sure to nominate me as the reseller. Thanks :)
===============End scam letter===================

Clearly, this person is *not* with TPA Software, nor are they associated with TPA Software.  I do not have sales staff, nor does anyone earn commission.  The file that was attached to this E-Mail was a .SHS file.  This is a System Scrap Object that once downloaded and executed would install an AOL password stealing Trojan onto your computer.  It would then mail your AOL password to whomever wrote the program (presumably this "Michael" person).

Again, any strange E-mail sent to you that has an attachment (or looks too good to be true) should be reported to AOL screen name TOSFILES and then deleted.

Now, about this letter...whoever this bonehead is got it all wrong.  IMs Plus has a 20 day trial, not a 30 days trial...and why on Earth he wants the potential victim to contact me with his name is absurd.  It would seem he wants to give me a bad rep.  The good news is once AOL knows about this file, they can remove it from their servers which would make it undownloadable.  In that event he points people to the website...where potential victims can then read about scams such as this.