Microsoft Teams Has Become a Haven for Scammers in China
Fraudsters are exploiting enterprise chat apps like Teams and Webex to trick Chinese victims into transferring large sums of money, fueling a wave of complaints.
Microsoft Teams has become a popular target for scammers in China, according to multiple reports. Victims have lost anywhere from $1,500 to $300,000 after being tricked into downloading the app and providing their login credentials. The scam often involves the perpetrator posing as a job recruiter, landlord, or romantic interest.
Microsoft's digital crimes division has acknowledged that scammers exploit trusted brands and communication platforms to carry out social engineering schemes. The company has taken steps to warn users and strengthen protections against fraudulent activity. However, some local law enforcement bureaus in China have issued warnings specifically naming Teams as a tool used by scammers.
Victims report that once they join the scammer's Teams account, they are directed to invest in a cryptocurrency scheme. The scammer then disappears with the money, leaving the victim unable to share chat logs with the police. Microsoft discontinued the personal version of Teams in China and now only offers the service through enterprise accounts.
Zoho, another targeted app, has identified a limited number of scam instances and taken steps to disable online payments and suspend suspect accounts in China. As scammers continue to find new victims through various channels, Microsoft and other companies are working to protect users from these increasingly sophisticated scams.
Written by urgent.news from Wired's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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