Google Alerts 2.5 Billion Gmail Users to Increased Scam Activity During Holidays

Google has issued a critical security warning to its 2.5 billion Gmail users about an increase in scam activities during the holiday season.

The company shared this alert on their Product News blog, pointing out that the holiday season is a prime time for cybercriminals to target email users.

According to Google, there’s been a noticeable rise in email traffic since mid-November, which scammers are taking advantage of Google stresses the importance of staying alert, as these fraudulent activities tend to increase during the holidays when people may be more vulnerable.

Google is dedicated to keeping its users safe, blocking over 99.9% of spam, phishing, and malware in Gmail. Nonetheless, they highlight that scammers are constantly refining their techniques, and expect another wave of attacks as the season continues.

The company identified three main types of scams currently being seen:

Invoice Scams: Scammers send fake bills, tricking users into calling to argue about the charges. This allows the scammers to get payments or sensitive information from the users.

Celebrity Scams: Scammers use celebrities’ names or impersonate them to make people trust fake promotions or products, which can lead to financial loss or identity theft.

Extortion Scams: These scams involve threats of violence or leaking personal information unless a payment is made. These threats seem real because they include personal details.

Google recommends several steps to protect yourself:

Slow Down: Be wary of emails that push you to act quickly or threaten you.

Spot Check: Always check who sent the email and whether the details make sense.

Stop! Don’t Send: Remember, real companies will not ask for immediate payments or personal details via email.

Report It: If an email looks suspicious, report it as spam or phishing. This helps protect your email and helps others too.

Google also mentioned advancements in AI technology that have strengthened Gmail’s ability to fight cyber threats.

This includes new AI models that have improved the detection and blocking of harmful emails by 20%, and a special AI system introduced before Black Friday to evaluate threats in real-time.

Following these guidelines can help Gmail users protect themselves against scams during the holiday season.