Got a call from someone claiming to be from your IT department in Ontario? Hang up and do this instead - St. Catharines Standard
The North Bay & District Chamber of Commerce is warning about a phone scam where callers impersonate IT workers to trick people into giving remote access to their devices.
The North Bay & District Chamber of Commerce has issued a warning to residents about a sophisticated phone scam targeting individuals and businesses. Callers are impersonating IT department staff or local computer companies, claiming there's an issue with devices or accounts that requires immediate attention.
These fraudsters specifically ask victims to log in to their email or other accounts, install software, or provide remote access to their devices under the pretense of fixing technical problems. The scam has been circulating among local businesses but could potentially affect any resident.
Phishing scam
This technique is known as a phishing scam, where strangers impersonate business colleagues or professionals to obtain sensitive corporate information. The goal is to trick victims into sharing details that can be used to access their accounts.
Callers may claim they're from your IT department or a local computer company and ask you to log in to your email or another account so they can fix an issue.
Safety measures
The chamber advises residents who receive unexpected calls or emails to stop and think before following any instructions. They should never log in, click links, share passwords, provide verification codes, or give remote access to unknown callers.
Do not rely on a number the caller gives you.
Instead, people are urged to hang up and verify any unusual request by contacting their workplace's IT department or the company directly using a verified number from the official website. Those who may have already followed the caller's instructions should seek help immediately from their official IT department or a trusted computer professional.
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