Beware of Fake "Support Calls" – They Could Be Ransomware Scams

Ever had a call claiming to be from Microsoft Teams support? Before you do anything, stop and think – it could be a scam.

Scammers are getting crafty, posing as IT help desk staff to trick people into handing over control of their devices. It’s all part of a bigger plan: a ransomware attack. That’s when your data is locked up, and you’re forced to pay a big ransom to get it back.

A Sneaky New Trick

A well-known cybercrime group has taken this scam to the next level. Here’s how they do it:

1. First, they flood an employee’s inbox with so much spam that it’s unusable.
2. Next, they call pretending to be IT support, offering to "fix" the problem.

They might ask the employee to install remote desktop software like AnyDesk or use built-in tools like Windows Quick Assist. Once they’re in, they’ll snoop around your network, steal sensitive data, and launch ransomware on your systems.

And it’s not just phone calls. They’ve even started creating fake Teams accounts, complete with usernames like “Help Desk” and dodgy Microsoft tenant domains such as securityadminhelper.onmicrosoft.com. Then they send direct messages, claiming they need access to an employee’s device.

Why Ransomware is a Big Deal

Ransomware can wreak havoc. It doesn’t just block access to your data – it can:

• Shut down your business operations.
• Stop you from serving customers.
• Leak confidential information.

Recovering is tough. It costs money, takes time, and can seriously damage your reputation. Sometimes, it even lands businesses in legal trouble.

How to Stay Safe

Here’s how you and your team can protect yourselves:

• Be cautious. Warn your team about these scams and remind them to double-check any unexpected calls or messages claiming to be from IT support.
• Verify first. If someone’s asking to install software or access a device, make sure they check with your actual IT department first.
• Secure your Teams setup. Limit external chats to trusted domains and enable chat logging.

Need Help Securing Your Business?

If you use Microsoft Teams and want to make sure it’s set up securely, we’re here to help.

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