Geeks Mobile USA (computerrepairservicesusa.com and geeksmobileusa.com) operates a network of contractor technicians across the USA, finding their contacts from services like OnForce, or sometimes CraigsList.
At times this operation has utilized different names (besides Geeks Mobile USA) including "Systems Made Easy", "Boston Computer Professionals", Computer Repair Services USA" and "Computer Repair Boston". Geeks Mobile has recently operated under the business name "ALL IT" (web: http://www.allitsupported.com/).
The company’s name is a play on the name of the company "Geek Squad". Do not confuse Geeks Mobile USA with Geek Squad. If you visit the GeeksMobileUSA website, the company has the appearance of a significant enterprise. This is deceiving.
The proprietor of Geeks Mobile USA is a Mr. Ilya Elbert. Mr. Elbert has been known to write positive fake reviews for his own company on independent review websites. Reviews from real customers say that their credit cards and bank accounts have been charged without permission, and that they have been grossly unsatisfied with the work performed. Contractors complain that Mr. Elbert fails to pay for services rendered, but complain more about being used to gather information that would be later used fraudulently by Geeks Mobile USA.
Geeks Mobile USA is a fraudulent operation, but more importantly, the company is a metaphor for much of the NSO community. Geeks Mobile USA is an unpolished criminal enterprise, but the more dangerous criminal, is the criminal with polish, and some surprising companies currently meet that description.
Geeks Mobile USA has earned the Geeks Informed Smell Test rating of Very Stinky.
NSO companies like GeeksMobileUSA.com will accept a work order, and then find a technician from service networks like OnForce.com (also an NSO) or even CraigsList (CraigsList is comparable to the classified advertisements in the newspaper, except it is on-line). If you have hired Geeks Mobile USA for a job, the technician you met was probably unaware that they were involved in a scam. In fact, the most likely victim in this arrangement is the contractor, since they frequently will never be paid. In most cases, the NSO never meets the contractor, except over the telephone or Internet.
However, like many companies in the National Service Organization (NSO) market segment, Geeks Mobile USA is not completely illegitimate. Many customers have had a successful repair, if the contractor that was hired happened to be competent.
CraigsList has become an reluctant expert on operations like Geeks Mobile USA.com. CraigsList offers the following guideline:
"DEAL LOCALLY WITH FOLKS YOU CAN MEET IN PERSON - follow this one simple rule and you will avoid 99% of the scam attempts."
It's good advice. Also, be careful of advertisements in the phone book or the Internet. Firms like Geeks Mobile USA will pretend that they are local, even maintaining local phone numbers in the larger cities.
Companies like Geeks Mobile USA will come and go. Mr. Elbert may change the name of his enterprise tomorrow. If you can get a reference from a friend, that is your best source for technical support. Until there is effective industry or governmental oversight of the National Service Industry, it will continue to be a very dangerous environment.
Corruption in business is not a new problem, but the Internet has certainly provided a new chapter. The anonymous nature of the Internet is not conducive to ethical behavior. Some of the more unscrupulous NSO operations provide false mailing addresses, making it more difficult for law enforcement.
Apathy is probably the most dangerous aspect of the current situation. Business corruption has become like the steroid problem in sports. It is such a part of the environment, that we have begun to accept it. Fraudulent operations are so common, that law enforcement rarely enforces existing law, except in the most brazen cases.
If we are to achieve a sustainable free market economy, business must behave ethically. The recent election of Barack Obama and his party's landslide victory was more than a victory for the Democrats. It was also a backlash against overly business-friendly policies. How many crimes have been committed due to this permissive environment?
The unethical behavior and infuriating instances of greed in the National Service Industry is creating a larger negative impact. The resulting lack of credibility will negatively affect business industry-wide. A higher standard for business ethics is required. But if baseball can take steps to combat steroids, then strong leadership can address the problems with the National Service Industry.
