Security News > 2024 > August > Tech support scammers impersonate Google via malicious search ads

Google Search ads that target users looking for Google's own services lead them to spoofed sites and Microsoft and Apple tech support scams.

The ads ostensibly point to Google Search, Translate, Analytics, Earth, and so on, but a closer look shows that the URLs of the pages are not the correct ones.

Instead, they are all hosted on Looker Studio, another Google service/online tool that allows users to convert data into reports and dashboards.

The page looks like the real deal, but it is actually an image of the Google Search home page that is stretched across the entire screen.

"What's interesting is how this image is used as a lure that requires some user interaction to trigger an action. Leveraging the Looker Studio API, the scammers are embedding a hidden hyperlink that will be launched as a new tab when a victims clicks on the image," Segura explained.

"These fake alerts are the most common way innocent people fall victims to tech support scams. In such a situation, many people will assume there is something wrong their computer and will follow the instructions they are given on screen," Segura added.

News URL

https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2024/08/16/google-ads-support-scams/