All 1.8 Billion Gmail Users Get Warning to Avoid Falling Victim to New Trick Used by Scammers

All 1.8 Billion Gmail Users Get Warning to Avoid Falling Victim to New Trick Used by Scammers

  • All 1.8 billion Gmail users have been issued a 'red alert' over a sophisticated AI-driven scam that allows hackers to access accounts
  • The attack employs robocalls and malicious emails to bypass security filters, convincing victims to provide their login credentials
  • Cybersecurity experts and the FBI have warned that this scam can result in devastating financial losses and compromise of sensitive data

All 1.8 billion Gmail users have been issued a 'red alert' over a scam that allows hackers to gain access to accounts.

The attack employs AI to craft robocalls and malicious emails capable of bypassing security filters. The combination aims to convince victims that their Gmail account has been compromised.

1.8 billion Gmail users have been issued a 'red alert' over a sophisticated AI-driven scam that allows hackers to access accounts.
All 1.8 billion Gmail users gets warning. Photo credit: Thomas Fuller/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
Source: Getty Images

Scam tactics and targeted users

According to Dailymail UK, victims receive a phone call alerting them to suspicious activity detected in their account and are told to expect an email with steps to rectify the issue.

The email includes a fake website that closely resembles Google's, prompting users to enter their login credentials.

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Cybersecurity experts warned that the goal of this is "to convince the target to provide the criminals with the user's Gmail recovery code, claiming it's needed to restore the account."

This scam not only compromises Gmail accounts but also other services connected to the platform.

FBI and Malwarebytes warnings

The FBI stated that "these sophisticated tactics can result in devastating financial losses, reputational damage, and compromise of sensitive data."

Malwarebytes had published a report, emphasizing that the FBI's warning "should not be taken lightly."

The company highlighted that AI tools used by cybercriminals are relatively low-cost, with some advanced email attacks starting at just $5.

A study by McAfee’s State of Scamiverse found that a convincing fake can be created in under 10 minutes for a minimal cost.

Guidelines to avoid falling victim

While the FBI's warning last year focused on threats using AI to create videos and emails to trick victims, Malwarebytes uncovered that hackers are now using robocalls and emails in the latest campaign.

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Police warn phone users when to end call

Legit.ng reported that FBI has issued a warning to smartphone users about the increasing threat of dangerous scam calls that can lead to loss of your money.

The bureau's alert focuses on fraudulent calls that appeared as though they came from banks or technical support, tricking users into transferring money or installing harmful software.

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Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Basit Jamiu avatar

Basit Jamiu (Current Affairs and Politics Editor) Basit Jamiu is a journalist with more than five years of experience. He is a current affairs and politics editor at Legit.ng. He holds a bachelor's degree from Ekiti State University (2018). Basit previously worked as a staff writer at Ikeja Bird (2022), Associate Editor at Prime Progress (2022), and Staff Writer at The Movee (2018). He is a 2024 Open Climate Fellow (West Africa), 2023 MTN Media Fellow, OCRP Fellow at ICIR, and Accountability Fellow at CJID. Email: basit.jamiu@corp.legit.ng.

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