Home · Technology · Sep 20 archive
Scammers are buying Google ads to steal bank logins
Confirmed
In Short: U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, Jeanine Pirro, described Xinbi Guarantee as a platform where vendors create tools for scammers to steal money from Americans.
The Justice Department announced on Sept. 8 that a Russian web developer accused of helping run a large bank account takeover operation had been extradited to the United States. The developer is alleged to have assisted in a scheme where victims were redirected to fake banking websites after clicking on sponsored search engine links.
Victims who clicked on these ads were redirected to fraudulent websites designed to mimic legitimate banking sites. They were then prompted to enter their banking credentials, believing they were logging into their actual accounts.
According to prosecutors, the criminal group purchased sponsored search engine links to lure unsuspecting customers to these fake login pages. This tactic exploits the common practice of using search engines to find official banking websites.
U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, Jeanine Pirro, described Xinbi Guarantee as a platform where vendors create tools for scammers to steal money from Americans. Xinbi operated as a primarily Chinese-language marketplace on Telegram, offering fake investment websites and money laundering services.
What this adds
The news adds details about the specific platform used by scammers and the immediate actions taken by affected companies to address the breaches.
What's confirmed
- The Justice Department announced on Sept. 8 that a Russian web developer accused of helping run a large bank account takeover operation had been extradited to the United States. The developer is alleged to have assisted in a scheme where victims were redirected to fake banking websites after clicking on sponsored search engine links.
- Victims who clicked on these ads were redirected to fraudulent websites designed to mimic legitimate banking sites. They were then prompted to enter their banking credentials, believing they were logging into their actual accounts.
- According to prosecutors, the criminal group purchased sponsored search engine links to lure unsuspecting customers to these fake login pages. This tactic exploits the common practice of using search engines to find official banking websites.
- U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, Jeanine Pirro, described Xinbi Guarantee as a platform where vendors create tools for scammers to steal money from Americans. Xinbi operated as a primarily Chinese-language marketplace on Telegram, offering fake investment websites and money laundering services.
What's still developing
- You need to check your bank account, so you open Google, type in your bank's name and click the first result that looks right.
- Now federal investigators say criminals turned that everyday habit into a way to steal bank logins and drain accounts.
- That should get the attention of anyone who banks online.
- Here's how the scam works, why those sponsored results can look so convincing and what you can do to avoid handing your bank login to a criminal.
- The affected companies were informed about the breaches, which happened in May.
- Why are there concerns AI could threaten humanity, and how real are they?
- Questions mount over what an AI 'slowdown' would look like The hacks first.
- "Irregular took immediate action, and all known issues on our end were remedied and resolved weeks ago," it added.
- As public debate continues to grow over the safety of developing the tech, so too does conversation around regulation.