Don’t Get Fooled! - How to Identify Suspicious IT Service Providers

Across Central Florida, businesses are facing a growing challenge that often goes unnoticed until it is too late.

Scammers and unqualified vendors are posing as IT support companies and Cybersecurity experts, contacting organizations through email, cold calls, or online forms. They promise fast fixes, low prices, or urgent solutions to problems you may not even have.

Some operate with misleading information, and others are entirely fraudulent. Many also use fear or urgency to pressure businesses into quick decisions.

The result is the same. Businesses unknowingly give access to their systems, purchase services that do not work, or sign long-term contracts with companies that disappear the moment something goes wrong.

At Aurora InfoTech, we want our community to stay protected. So here are some of the most common red flags to watch for when evaluating a vendor:

1. Generic or suspicious email domains

Many fraudulent vendors use free email accounts or domains that do not match their company name. This is often one of the earliest signs that something is not right.

A legitimate service provider will always communicate from a verified business domain, not Gmail, Outlook, or an oddly structured address.

2. High-pressure and fear-based messaging

Scam vendors rely heavily on urgency.
Phrases like:
• “Immediate action required.”
• “Your system is critically failing.”
• “You must respond today.”

These are meant to bypass your normal decision-making process. A trustworthy provider will never pressure you to sign instantly or try to scare you into compliance.

3. No physical address or verifiable company information

Some scammers list a “local” address that is actually a mailbox, shared workspace, or empty suite. Others have no address at all.
Before engaging, always check:
• Their Google business listing
• Their physical office
• Their established presence in the community
• Online reviews

If you cannot verify that they really exist, it is safer to walk away.

4. Requests for sensitive information too early

A legitimate company will never ask for passwords, access credentials, or deep internal network details before proper vetting. Scammers ask early because access is their goal.

5. Poor branding, inconsistent messaging, or grammar issues

Fraudulent companies often rush their outreach, resulting in things like:
• Errors
• Inconsistent design
• Unclear service descriptions
• Vague or generic promises

This is a clear red flag, especially in an industry where precision and clarity are essential.

6. Promises that feel too good to be true

"Guaranteed fixes."
"Instant results."
"Low-cost Cybersecurity solutions."
“100 percent compliance in 24 hours.”

Real Cybersecurity and IT support requires planning, accurate assessment, and long-term strategy. If it sounds effortless, it probably is not real.

What to do next:

You do not need to be an expert to avoid these scams. You just need to slow down and verify information before taking action.

Here are three simple steps:
• Look up the company.
• Ask for references and proof of work.
• Get a second or third opinion from a trusted local provider.

If you happen to receive an email or message that feels suspicious, please forward it to us. We will help you review it at no cost and let you know if it looks legitimate.

Our goal is to help keep our business community safe, informed, and resilient.

Have questions or want us to check something for you?

👉 Call us today at (407) 995-6766

or CLICK HERE to schedule your free Discovery Call.