Google has taken a major step in combating cybercrime by filing a federal lawsuit against a network of Chinese-based cybercriminals accused of carrying out massive text-message phishing scams. According to the tech giant, these scammers have been using sophisticated tactics to trick victims into revealing sensitive information such as passwords and credit card numbers.
The scammers, who are reportedly behind a criminal network called "Lighthouse," send text messages that appear to be legitimate warnings about stuck packages or unpaid tolls. However, these messages are actually phishing attempts designed to compromise the recipients' personal data. In total, it's estimated that the group has compromised anywhere from 15 million to 100 million potential credit cards in the US and affected over a million victims.
Google's general counsel, Halimah DeLaine Prado, said that the company has filed a first-of-its-kind lawsuit under the RICO Act, which is typically used to take down organized crime rings. The case targets unknown operators who allegedly built a "phishing-as-a-service" platform to power mass text attacks.
While Google's primary goal in filing this lawsuit is not to help victims recover lost money, it serves as a deterrent for future criminals to create similar enterprises. The company has also discovered over 100 fake sites using its logo to trick people into handing over passwords or credit card numbers, with an estimated tens of millions of credit cards linked to sensitive information stolen in the US alone.
Cybersecurity experts say that lawsuits like Google's can have a significant impact on scammers' operations. By targeting a major player and taking it down, it sends a message that this kind of business is no longer viable. However, the challenge lies in pursuing these cybercriminals overseas, as many operate from countries with limited extradition laws.
In an effort to protect users, Google recommends turning on "Filter Unknown Senders" and "Filter Junk" on iPhones, and enabling Spam Protection and forwarding scam texts to 7726 (SPAM) on Android devices. However, it's also important for users to regularly check their unknown senders or spam folders to avoid accidentally catching legitimate messages.
The scammers, who are reportedly behind a criminal network called "Lighthouse," send text messages that appear to be legitimate warnings about stuck packages or unpaid tolls. However, these messages are actually phishing attempts designed to compromise the recipients' personal data. In total, it's estimated that the group has compromised anywhere from 15 million to 100 million potential credit cards in the US and affected over a million victims.
Google's general counsel, Halimah DeLaine Prado, said that the company has filed a first-of-its-kind lawsuit under the RICO Act, which is typically used to take down organized crime rings. The case targets unknown operators who allegedly built a "phishing-as-a-service" platform to power mass text attacks.
While Google's primary goal in filing this lawsuit is not to help victims recover lost money, it serves as a deterrent for future criminals to create similar enterprises. The company has also discovered over 100 fake sites using its logo to trick people into handing over passwords or credit card numbers, with an estimated tens of millions of credit cards linked to sensitive information stolen in the US alone.
Cybersecurity experts say that lawsuits like Google's can have a significant impact on scammers' operations. By targeting a major player and taking it down, it sends a message that this kind of business is no longer viable. However, the challenge lies in pursuing these cybercriminals overseas, as many operate from countries with limited extradition laws.
In an effort to protect users, Google recommends turning on "Filter Unknown Senders" and "Filter Junk" on iPhones, and enabling Spam Protection and forwarding scam texts to 7726 (SPAM) on Android devices. However, it's also important for users to regularly check their unknown senders or spam folders to avoid accidentally catching legitimate messages.
this is insane how these chinese cybercriminals are using phishing scams to get away with so much money and personal info... i mean 15 million to 100 million compromised credit cards that's like a huge target for google to take down, nice move 
but seriously though what's the hold up on getting them extradited overseas? it's like they're hiding in a cloud or something 
. but seriously, 15-100 million compromised credit cards? that's wild 
. and now they're gonna send a message that this kinda thing isn't cool anymore 
. guess that's good news for all us who use our phones to pay bills... fingers crossed no one falls for their phishing attempts 
. btw, have you ever checked your spam folder on iphone? like, it's only when you get some weird texts 
. I mean, don't get me wrong, phishing scams are a big deal and all that, but this whole RICO Act thing just seems like a fancy way of creating more problems for the bad guys...or so I think 
. What's next? Are they gonna start using their resources to track down these scammers overseas and actually bring them to justice? 
i guess its good theyre trying to deter these types of criminals by filing a lawsuit under the RICO Act maybe itll scare others away 
15 million to 100 million compromised credit cards is crazy talk 
it definitely sends a message that these kind of scams arent gonna fly anymore 
and for users, its all about being vigilant & regularly checking their unknown senders or spam folders to avoid accidentally catching legit messages 
i mean i get it they need to make a living but 100 million+ compromised credit cards is just wild 
it's about time someone took 'em down a peg
theyre just now taking action against these cybercriminals after years of phishing scams happening on their platforms lol what about all the ppl who got hacked on gmail or youtube back in the day? i mean dont get me wrong, kudos to google for taking down this lighthouse network and all that 
but it feels like theyre just doing this because its good PR rather than actually caring about their users
but it turned out it was just a legit company sending her info about her order 
so google is like "we're gonna crush these chinese cyber thugs" and i'm over here thinking why did they wait this long lol? 15-100 million compromised credit cards is wild tho, can you imagine your info just floating around the dark web 
. I've been using 2FA and keeping an eye on my accounts, but it's still unsettling to think that someone could trick you into giving up sensitive info 
. Google's move to take them down is a good start, but like the experts said, it's hard to track these guys down overseas 
. We need more awareness and security measures for users, not just for their own protection, but also to deter these scammers 
.
. The thing is, while Google's lawsuit can be a big deterrent for future scammers, it's also super hard to catch these guys overseas 
. I feel like we need more international cooperation on this one, you know? 
They gotta be stopped ASAP! 
I'm so glad Google is taking them down with a lawsuit, it's definitely a wake-up call for these cybercriminals. But, like, what about all the people who've already been affected? Can't we do more to help them recover their lost money?