Chinese cybercrime operation that used AI to scam 'hundreds of thousands of victims' sued by Google
Google has filed a lawsuit to dismantle the infrastructure behind an alleged Chinese cybercrime operation called Outsider Enterprise, which it says used AI to scam hundreds of thousands of victims. According to Google, the group sent 2.5 million scam texts to Android users in a two-week period, deployed 9,000 fake websites and one million fraudulent domains, and impersonated Google and other brands to steal passwords and credit card details. Google is coordinating with the FBI and major US carriers, and the FBI says the group's phishing platform enabled the theft of an estimated 3.87 million credit cards since July 2023.
Key Takeaways
- The tech giant said a group called "Outsider Enterprise" used AI to scam hundreds of thousands of victims, sending 2.5 million text messages over a span of two weeks.
Google is suing to dismantle the infrastructure behind an alleged massive AI-powered cybercrime operation.
- Outsider Enterprise has financially scammed "hundreds of thousands of victims" with losses "estimated in the millions."
The group deployed 9,000 fake websites, one million fraudulent web domains, and 2.5 million texts sent to Android users in a two-week period, according to Google.
- The company said it has been collaborating with AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon to block the scam text messages, and said it is coordinating with the FBI.
An FBI spokesperson told TechCrunch that the bureau, in coordination with Google and Lumen's Black Lotus Labs, seized several domains used by the cybercriminals, as well as Shopify storefronts and accounts used to test the operation's phishing service.
- This group "built, maintains, and uses a turn-key, online software suite that enables criminals, regardless of technical skill, to publish fraudulent websites designed to rob victims and enrich themselves," according to the complaint.
The fake sites impersonate several services and companies, such as telecom providers, financial institutions, government agencies, and retailers.
- "The Enterprise brazenly coordinates its efforts in open and largely uncoded discussions on Telegram."
Stats & Key Facts
- #According to Google, the group sent 2.5 million scam texts to Android users in a two-week period, deployed 9,000 fake websites and one million fraudulent domains, and impersonated Google and other brands to steal passwords and credit card details.
- #Google is coordinating with the FBI and major US carriers, and the FBI says the group's phishing platform enabled the theft of an estimated 3.87 million credit cards since July 2023.
- #The tech giant said a group called "Outsider Enterprise" used AI to scam hundreds of thousands of victims, sending 2.5 million text messages over a span of two weeks.
- #The group deployed 9,000 fake websites, one million fraudulent web domains, and 2.5 million texts sent to Android users in a two-week period, according to Google.
The tech giant said a group called "Outsider Enterprise" used AI to scam hundreds of thousands of victims, sending 2.5 million text messages over a span of two weeks. Google is suing to dismantle the infrastructure behind an alleged massive AI-powered cybercrime operation. On Friday, the tech giant announced a lawsuit against an alleged Chinese cybercrime network called Outsider Enterprise, which Google says uses AI in its campaigns to send scam text messages impersonating Google and other brands to steal passwords and credit card numbers.
Outsider Enterprise has financially scammed "hundreds of thousands of victims" with losses "estimated in the millions." The group deployed 9,000 fake websites, one million fraudulent web domains, and 2.5 million texts sent to Android users in a two-week period, according to Google. The company said, "55,000 spam texts were flagged by Android users in just two weeks this past May - that's more than two text spam complaints a minute."
Google said it uses "AI-powered tools to fight AI-powered scams," which enable the company to detect scams and alert users of suspicious calls and text messages, leading to the interception of more than 10 billion scam messages a month. The company said it has been collaborating with AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon to block the scam text messages, and said it is coordinating with the FBI. An FBI spokesperson told TechCrunch that the bureau, in coordination with Google and Lumen's Black Lotus Labs, seized several domains used by the cybercriminals, as well as Shopify storefronts and accounts used to test the operation's phishing service.
For more details please read the original article at TechCrunch AI.
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