Don’t Fall for Fake Help Desk Calls
Have you ever received a call claiming to be from Microsoft Teams support? Before following their instructions, ask yourself: could this be a ransomware scam? In Q3 2024, 32% of ransomware attacks on U.S. organizations led to a ransom payment. This marks a significant decline of 62% since Q1 2019, showing progress in combating ransomware threats.
Now, scammers are increasingly pretending to be “help desk” staff, aiming to trick employees into giving them remote access to their devices. This tactic is part of a larger ransomware scam designed to lock businesses out of their own data. Victims are then forced to pay a significant ransom to regain access.
Stay vigilant—don’t let your business fall prey to these scams!
Ransomware Scam Alert: Watch Out for This New Tactic
Recently, a notorious cybercrime group has elevated the ransomware scam with a more sophisticated approach:
Overloading inboxes with spam: The attackers flood an employee’s email inbox with excessive spam, rendering it unusable.
Posing as IT support: They then follow up with a phone call, pretending to be from the IT help desk.
Offering a “fix”: Under the guise of solving the email issue, they trick employees into granting access, paving the way for a ransomware scam.
How Scammers Gain Access
Some Tactics Used in Ransomware Scams
Cybercriminals are becoming increasingly deceptive in their efforts to infiltrate your network and launch ransomware scams. Here’s how they operate:
- Tricking employees into installing remote desktop software: Scammers may request the installation of tools like AnyDesk or use built-in options such as Windows Quick Assist to gain control of devices.
- Navigating your network: Once inside, they move freely across the network, accessing sensitive business data and identifying vulnerabilities.
- Launching ransomware attacks: The attackers encrypt critical files, demanding hefty payments in exchange for restoring access.
- Masquerading as IT support on Teams: They create fake Teams accounts with usernames like “Help Desk” and domains like “securityadminhelper.onmicrosoft.com” to deceive employees into trusting them.
- Sending one-on-one messages: Through Teams, they directly contact employees, claiming urgent access is needed to fix a problem or secure the system.
Be cautious and educate your team to recognize these signs of a ransomware scam. Prevention and awareness are key to safeguarding your business.
How Dangerous Are Ransomware Scams?
Ransomware scams are more than just a data threat. Have you considered the full impact they could have on your business? These attacks go beyond locking you out of your systems:
- Halting operations: Ransomware scams can bring your business to a standstill, stopping workflows and disrupting productivity.
- Interrupting customer service: When systems are down, serving your clients becomes impossible, damaging your reputation.
- Exposing confidential information: Scammers may steal sensitive business or customer data and threaten to leak it unless a ransom is paid.
- Creating financial losses: Beyond the ransom, businesses face costs from downtime, recovery efforts, and potential legal penalties for data breaches.
Understanding the full scope of ransomware scams is critical to preparing your defenses. Are you ready to protect your business?
Ransomware on The High Cost of Recovery
How Do Businesses Recover from Ransomware Scams?
Dealing with ransomware scams is costly and challenging. Here’s what businesses typically need to do to recover:
- Paying the ransom: While not recommended, some companies pay the ransom in hopes of retrieving their data, but there’s no guarantee of success.
- Restoring systems: Recovery often involves rebuilding affected systems and restoring data from backups, which can take significant time and resources.
- Managing revenue loss: Downtime caused by ransomware scams leads to lost productivity and revenue.
- Repairing reputational damage: Businesses must work to regain trust from customers and stakeholders after an attack.
- Addressing legal and compliance issues: Data breaches can result in fines and lawsuits, adding further strain.
- Enhancing security measures: Post-attack, businesses must invest in stronger defenses to prevent future incidents.
Protect Your Business from Ransomware Scams
Educate your team to be cautious of unsolicited support calls or suspicious Teams messages. Ensure your Microsoft Teams setup is secure by enabling chat logging and allowing external communication only from trusted domains.
Need expert help? Contact Cleartech Group now or visit our website at www.cleartechgroup.com to safeguard your business against ransomware scams.