Ghana warns against fake Microsoft fixes
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on 3News
Ghana’s Cyber Security Authority (CSA) and the National Information Technology Agency (NITA) warn of fraudsters posing as Microsoft support after the Outlook outage. According to their alert of 13 November, these messages offer fake fixes or ask users to verify accounts, and Microsoft never asks for passwords.
According to Ghana’s Cyber Security Authority (CSA) and the National Information Technology Agency (NITA), fraudsters are taking advantage of the Microsoft outage to deceive internet users. In a joint alert dated 13 November, the two bodies describe fake Microsoft support technicians who send fake “fixes”, fake links to restore access, or requests to verify accounts.
The outage, which occurred on Thursday 12 November, affected Outlook. According to the CSA, services have been restored, although some users may still experience intermittent disruptions. The authorities advise users not to click on any link or open any attachment received on the subject, even if the message appears authentic. They also recall that Microsoft never asks for a password, a one-time code or multi-factor verification by email, SMS or phone.
It is recommended to check the full sender address, to be wary of urgent or threatening messages, and to verify the recipient before sharing a sensitive document via messaging. Anyone who receives a suspicious message can report it to the CSA by call or SMS to short code 292, on WhatsApp at 0501603111, or by email to [email protected]. The NITA can be reached at [email protected] or on 055 249 9661.
These attempts follow the global Microsoft outage, which disrupted Outlook and Teams in 74 countries.
