Google has released a crucial update, signaling the start of the holiday shopping season. With Black Friday deals underway, consumers are advised to remain vigilant against potential scams. According to Google’s latest fraud and scams advisory, cybercriminals tend to ramp up their activities during peak shopping periods like Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
Scammers take advantage of increased consumer demand and urgency during these events to lure unsuspecting shoppers with deceptive offers, leading to financial theft and data breaches. Google warns that shoppers should be cautious of deals that seem too good to be true or suspicious alerts while browsing online or checking emails.
To deceive consumers, scammers employ various sophisticated tactics, including creating fake online storefronts, impersonating well-known brands, and running deceptive ad campaigns. Black Friday and Cyber Monday are prime times for smishing or phishing campaigns, where criminals attempt to trick individuals into divulging sensitive information under false pretenses.
Common tactics involve sending fake emails claiming missed parcels or fake prize winnings. Google emphasizes the surge in targeted phishing and smishing campaigns during this period, where scammers pose as delivery services demanding fake fees or promoting bogus rewards.
Despite Google’s efforts to combat scams using new technology to block fraudulent emails and websites, it is essential for consumers to remain vigilant. Google is introducing enhanced protections against package tracking scams for users of specific devices opting into Enhanced Protection in Chrome, providing additional defense through local Gemini models and Safe Browsing. Additionally, new protections have been implemented for Google Messages users to safeguard against such scams.