Scammers Impersonate Google, Warn of Iranian Hack to Steal Money
Translated & summarized from Israel Hayom by baba
A new phishing scam impersonates Google, warning users of a hack from Iran and directing them to call fake support numbers. Some numbers use a premium prefix to generate revenue, while others are for phone phishing to steal funds. The scam, identified by Fisherman Security, exploits fear and fake trust to trick users into financial loss. Experts recommend contacting companies directly through their official websites, not via suspicious links or numbers.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Scammers are impersonating Google with fake warnings of Iranian hacks to steal user funds.
- The fraudulent messages direct users to call premium-rate phone numbers or fake support centers.
- Some scam numbers use the 1-809 prefix, mimicking toll-free numbers but incurring high charges.
- Fisherman Security identified the scam, noting its use of fear and fake trust tactics.
- Cyber experts advise users to ignore suspicious links and call numbers, contacting companies directly instead.
A new phishing scam is targeting users by sending fake emails impersonating Google, warning of a potential hack originating from Iran. These fraudulent messages urge recipients to urgently call a "support center" number. Some of these numbers are prefixed with 1-809, a premium international calling code designed to appear legitimate by resembling the familiar 1-800 toll-free prefix, but which incurs significant charges for the caller. Other local numbers provided are used for phone phishing, a tactic previously seen targeting Binance users with fake support centers aimed at stealing funds.
Fisherman Security identified the scam. Matan Gadanian, the company's CEO, stated that attackers exploit fear and fake trust-building elements to trick users into calling premium numbers or contacting fake support centers for financial theft, similar to past schemes targeting financial platforms. This method echoes previous scams where attackers impersonated well-known entities to create a sense of urgency, pushing victims to speak with fake representatives.
In past incidents involving cryptocurrency exchanges, similar tactics were used via calls and messages to gain account access credentials and steal funds. Cybersecurity experts advise against using any phone number or link from suspicious communications. Instead, users should independently navigate to the official company website.
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