Helpdesk Shenanigans Surface as "Fake IT Support" Scams Escalate

Cybercriminals impersonate IT helpdesks on Teams, while a Canadian IT team faces claims of faking work. See how this affects employees and security.

#FakeITSupport, #CyberScams, #MicrosoftTeams, #WorkplaceIssues, #CanadaNews

https://newsletter.tf/fake-it-support-scams-canada-helpdesk-teams/

New scams are using fake IT support on platforms like Teams. This is more dangerous than old email scams because it happens in real-time.

#FakeITSupport, #CyberScams, #MicrosoftTeams, #WorkplaceIssues, #CanadaNews
https://newsletter.tf/fake-it-support-scams-canada-helpdesk-teams/

Fake IT Scams Rise While Canada Helpdesk Faces Internal Issues

Cybercriminals impersonate IT helpdesks on Teams, while a Canadian IT team faces claims of faking work. See how this affects employees and security.

NewsletterTF

PBS NewsHour - The Latest | As losses from scams surge, Congress asks telecoms to do more to prevent them by Erika Kinetz, Associated Press, Juliet Linderman, Associated Press

AI generated summary, Read the full article for complete information.

A powerful joint congressional committee is pressing major telecoms—AT&T, Verizon and T‑Mobile—to step up protection against the exploding wave of cyber scams that cost Americans an estimated $200 billion in 2024, urging the companies to share data, monitor fraudulent activity and take decisive action against bad actors. The request, signed by Rep. David Schweikert and Sen. Maggie Hassan, comes amid growing concern over billions of unwanted calls and texts that continue to slip through existing defenses despite the 2019 TRACED Act’s caller‑ID authentication requirements; industry groups report that carriers blocked 55 billion spam texts and 45 billion scam calls in 2024, yet Americans still received more than 50 billion robocalls in 2025 and 19 billion spam texts each month. Telecoms say they are tracing scam sources and supporting law‑enforcement investigations, while some are turning anti‑scam tools into paid services. Consumer advocates argue stronger financial incentives or liability are needed to compel firms to go further, and the story is part of an AP‑Frontline collaboration highlighting the broader push to curb fraud.

Read more: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/as-losses-from-scams-surge-congress-asks-telecoms-to-do-more-to-prevent-them

#ATT #Verizon #T_Mobile #congressjointeconomiccommittee #cyberscams #DavidSchweikert #MaggieHassan #JoshBercu #EdenIscil

As losses from scams surge, Congress asks telecoms to do more to prevent them

A powerful congressional committee is urging major telecommunications companies to do more to protect Americans against scams, part of a widening investigation into the role that U.S. companies play in the surge in cyberscams that cost Americans an estimated $200 billion in 2024.

PBS News
#US launches sweeping crackdown on SE Asia #cyberscams & #sanctions Cambodian senator
"crackdown led by US government #Scam Center Strike Force, incls Treasury Dept's sanction'g of a prominent lawmaker & 28 other people & cos accused of operat'g fr #SCambodia. #Criminal charges also were filed against 2 #Chinese nationals involved in similar op'n in #Myanmar.. #KokAn is at least te 2nd Cambodian senator to be sanctioned by US. In 2024 US acted against tycoon Ly Yong Phat"
https://english.kyodonews.net/articles/-/74948
US launches sweeping crackdown on Southeast Asia cyberscams and sanctions Cambodian senator

BANGKOK — U.S. officials have announced a sweeping crackdown on Southeast Asian cyberscam operations as part of what U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro characterized as a “new theater of war” launched by the Trump administration against Chinese transnational organized crime.

Japan Wire by Kyodo News
In the last couple of weeks I learnt that a) #cyberscams are a $10-20T (trillion!) per year business, in contrast to b) DE/US trade which is only $1.5T per year.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/apr/22/british-woman-died-in-ghana-trying-to-recoup-money-from-scammers-inquest-told?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
British woman died in Ghana trying to recoup money from scammers, inquest told

Janet Fordham died in crash after travelling to see man who claimed he would help to recover money from earlier scams

The Guardian
#SCambodia has a new law targeting scams, but is it just another ‘paper reform’?
"key gap in te #law was lack of explicit provisions on #corruption to address te role traditionally played by wide range of #officials & powerful members of #senate 🤦‍♂️.. had enabled & orgn'd #scam ops.. failed to detail cond'ns for court seizure of assets belonging to those convicted of perpetrating #cyberscams, or how those assets might be used, for eg, to provide restitution to scam victims"
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3349298/cambodia-has-new-law-targeting-scams-it-just-another-paper-reform
Why Cambodia’s new law may do little to combat its scam centres

Analysts warn the lack of provisions addressing the role officials and networks play in enabling scams may limit the law’s effectiveness.

South China Morning Post
Cybercriminals stole ₹9.71 lakh from a Mumbai businessman`s bank account using a fake RTO Challan app sent via WhatsApp. https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/india/fake-rto-app-scam-mumbai-ljdcmt4c?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon #cyberfraud #cyberscams #mumbai #RTO
Delhi Police busts major online extortion syndicate! 6 arrested in Lucknow after a woman lost Rs 49 lakh. Don`t fall victim to these cyber scams. Read the full story now! https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/crime/delhi-police-nabs-6-from-lucknow-in-49-lakh-digital-arrest-fraud-ao12n827?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon #DelhiPolice #extortion #arrest #Lucknow #cyberscams

#BBC

Thousands of Chinese lured abroad and forced to be scammers - now Beijing is cracking down

" Since 2023, Chinese and Myanmar authorities have arrested more than 57,000 Chinese nationals for their role in cyberscams, state media reported. "

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1lq95j1yp9o

#China #Asia #Myanmar #Thailand #cyberscams #scam #Mafia #SoutheastAsia #Cybercrime

Thousands of Chinese lured abroad and forced to be scammers - now Beijing is cracking down

Myanmar's scam clans are being brought to justice in the full glare of Chinese state TV.

Quishing #Scams: How To Prevent #QRCode Attacks in Your #SMB

#cybersecurity #phishingprevention #quishing

Did you know #QRcodes are now one of the most common sources of #cyberscams?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=259I2I5bBIU

Quishing Scams: How To Prevent QR Code Attacks in Your SMB

YouTube