Fake help desk by chat or phone
Someone posing as your IT team or IT provider reaches out by workplace chat or phone to get a sign-in, a code or remote access.
How to spot it
- External tag on a chat that uses your IT provider's name
- Contact you did not ask for about a problem you did not report
- Links on a domain that is not your IT provider's
- Requests for sign-in codes
What to do
Do not act in the chat or call. Contact your IT provider on the number or portal you already have.
What the real thing looks like
- A ticket update from the provider's real domain about a request you made
- A coworker's update in your own channel
Try an example
A practice example with fictional companies. Answer it, then see the tells.
What do you do?
Caller ID: Bayview ITNumber: (555) 555-0131
- CallerHi, this is Chris from Bayview IT. Your computer is sending out spam and we need to clean it right now.
- YouI did not put in a ticket.
- CallerIt was flagged on our side. Go to the website I give you and open the remote session so I can connect.
Test yourself on eight more
The free quiz mixes scams with legitimate messages, like real life. No sign-up.