Alphabet Inc.’s Google filed a lawsuit against alleged Chinese cybercriminals, accusing the group of orchestrating a vast phishing campaign designed to dupe Americans into turning over their credit card numbers.
The group, which Google refers to as “Darcula,” developed a malicious software kit that enables users with little technical knowledge to automatically send waves of text messages purporting to offer free versions of Google services such as YouTube Premium, according to the complaint filed Wednesday. In fact, the messages lured recipients into turning over financial information that scammers could use to steal victims’ money.
The Darcula enterprise stole nearly 900,000 credit card numbers, including 40,000 numbers from Americans, over the course of seven months, according to the the complaint. The scheme was responsible for up to 80% of all phishing messages and involved some 600 cybercriminals at its peak, according to Google.
Technology firms such as Google and Microsoft Corp. often take such legal actions with the goal of obtaining court authorization to seize the web infrastructure that cybercrime groups use to conduct their efforts. Taking over those domains and other services disrupt scammers’ operations, forcing them to develop new tactics or abandon their efforts altogether.
The latest version of the software offers a tool in which artificial intelligence is used to create a fake version of almost any website within minutes, according to the complaint.
The Darcula group couldn’t immediately be reached for comment. A Telegram channel used by members of the group listed in the Google complaint no longer exists.
The Mountain View, California-based company said in the suit it was taking action because the cybercriminal effort invokes Google’s branding and has forced the company to dedicate substantial resources to combat the fraud efforts.
Google in November sued an alleged cybercrime group that it blamed for sending texts that fraudulently warned people about supposed unpaid tolls or failed package deliveries.
NBC News previously reported on the legal action.
Photo: Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg
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