Google warns about 5 of the most common scams currently circulating.

As online scams become increasingly sophisticated and widespread, cybercriminals are constantly developing new tactics to deceive unsuspecting victims.

They exploit advanced technology, manipulate human psychology, and create increasingly sophisticated schemes that are harder to detect.

In response to this situation, Google has released a list of the latest online scam trends that its Trust & Safety team has identified and addressed.

This list includes the five most common types of scams today, along with important tips to help users protect themselves from online risks.

1. Impersonating a celebrity in a realistic way.

Scammers are exploiting AI-powered deepfake technology to create incredibly realistic images and videos impersonating celebrities.

These fake contents are often used in scam campaigns to promote fraudulent investments, free giveaways, or malicious apps, making it easy for victims to fall into the trap.

According to Google, these scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, combining traditional impersonation and investment fraud, and exploiting multiple platforms and products within a single campaign.

Deepfake videos or images can appear on social media, in online advertisements, or even in phishing emails, creating the illusion that a celebrity is actually promoting an attractive investment opportunity or giveaway.

Safety tip:

Be wary of unnatural expressions or strange facial movements in videos or images you see. Deepfake technology, no matter how advanced, still struggles to accurately reproduce lip movements, blinking, and facial expressions, especially in low-quality videos.

- Always verify the source of information, especially unusual promotional offers or calls for investment from celebrities. If an offer seems too good to be true, check with official sources before making a decision.

2. Cryptocurrency investment scams

Cryptocurrency investment scams continue to proliferate, promising unrealistically high returns and preying on victims' greed and lack of knowledge.

Scammers often use images of celebrities or financial experts to create a false sense of credibility, leading many people to believe that this is a genuine investment opportunity.

According to Google, many of these scams originate from organized crime groups, operate across borders, and target victims in other countries to avoid detection by authorities.

Scammers may use fake websites, online advertisements, or even contact victims directly via social media to persuade them to invest.

Safety tip:

- Be wary of promises of "guaranteed" or extremely high returns with no risk. Any investment that promises huge returns in a short period of time is likely a scam.

- Carefully check the source of information; do not trust endorsements from celebrities unless they come from their official websites.

- Thoroughly research the project before investing, verify information through reputable financial sources, and avoid platforms that lack transparency or are not regulated.

3. Copying scams

One of the most common forms of online fraud today is phishing scams, in which fraudsters create fake apps, phishing websites, or landing pages that mimic legitimate brands to deceive users.

These fake websites are often designed to look very similar to the official website with the aim of stealing personal information, committing financial fraud, or spreading malware.

One common tactic used by scammers is impersonating technical support. They create fake websites or pop-ups mimicking the customer support centers of large companies, warning users about fake security incidents and tricking them into sharing sensitive information or paying for non-existent services.

Recently, malicious actors have expanded their targets to include employee login portals and third-party services. They create fake login pages that mimic the interface of corporate systems to trick employees into entering their login credentials.

If successful, the attackers could infiltrate the company's internal systems, causing serious consequences such as data leaks, theft of financial information, or hijacking of business accounts.

Safety tip:

- Always access the company's official website by typing the address directly into the search bar instead of clicking on suspicious links in emails or messages.

- Carefully check for unusual signs such as subtle spelling errors, inconsistent fonts, strange formatting, or random emojis in suspicious emails or websites.

- Do not share personal information or make payments through unofficial channels. If you receive a suspicious request, contact the company's customer support directly to verify its authenticity.

4. Concealing the fraudulent website in a sophisticated way.

To avoid detection by Google's security and censorship systems, scammers employ sophisticated concealment techniques to hide malicious content and lure users to fraudulent websites.

One common method they use is displaying different content to Google and to actual users. This means that when Google's system crawls a website to evaluate it, it only sees valid or harmless content.

However, when users access this website, it redirects them to fraudulent websites such as investment scam sites or malware installation sites.

This concealment allows scammers to bypass tools that scan for policy violations, while also prolonging their operation before being detected and removed. This technique is particularly dangerous because users can unknowingly access fraudulent websites without noticing any prior warning signs.

Safety tip:

- Carefully check the URL (website address) before clicking on any link. If the link looks suspicious, unusually long, or contains strange characters, avoid accessing it.

- After clicking the link, double-check your browser's address bar to ensure that the page you're accessing is exactly the same as the one you expected. Scammers may use sophisticated variations of the official domain name (e.g., "google.com" instead of "google.com") to trick users.

- If a website suddenly redirects you to different content, especially if it asks for personal information or software downloads, leave immediately and report the site if necessary.

5. Taking advantage of major events

Cybercriminals are becoming increasingly sophisticated in exploiting important events to carry out scams, targeting people who are interested in or want to participate in these events.

They can use artificial intelligence (AI) to create deceptive content, from fake videos and advertisements for non-existent products to fraudulent charity fundraising campaigns.

Events that are often exploited by fraudsters include:

- Natural disasters (earthquakes, storms, wildfires, etc.): Scammers create fake charities to attract the generosity of people who want to contribute to the victims.

- Astronomical events (eclipses, comets, rare phenomena, etc.): They advertise fraudulent products such as substandard eclipse viewing glasses or goods claimed to be "NASA-certified" when they are completely nonexistent.

- Sports and entertainment events (football finals, concerts with famous singers, etc.): Scammers sell fake tickets, fraudulent livestream links, or launch investment scams related to the event.

Safety tip:

- Only donate money and purchase products from reputable and verified platforms, such as the official websites of well-known organizations or brands.

- Carefully verify advertised information by searching on reliable sources before making a transaction.

Be wary of websites that request personal information or quick payments, especially if they appear right after a major event.