In conjunction with "Safe Internet Day" which falls on the second Tuesday of February every year, Google is sharing online fraud trends observed in Taiwan and related self-protection tips.
Major events become targets of fraudsters
Scammers love to capitalize on trending events, using AI to create new tactics and make their scams even more convincing. They quickly exploit the latest news to make fake tickets, fake charity donations, and other scams appear incredibly authentic. They target everything from concerts and sporting events to natural and man-made disasters. When these events occur, people are often rushed to act quickly, which plays into the scammers' trap. In Taiwan, Lunar New Year and major shopping festivals are popular times for scammers, who exploit the gift-giving culture and the frenzy of online shopping during the holidays.
During major events or crises, Google will strengthen monitoring and enforcement to better protect everyone and activate all relevant policies. Google also has specific policies for sensitive events, including advertising, shopping, YouTube monetization, and Google Play. These policies prohibit products or services that exploit, negate, or condone sensitive events, and prohibit the use of related keywords to drive traffic.
Safety tips:When purchasing tickets or making donations, please identify the official channels. Before donating, be sure to research the charity and carefully read its website. Search results can be found by using "About this result" to identify the source.
AI-powered celebrity face-swapping scams investors
Scammers use AI to create fake videos and photos featuring celebrity endorsements, known as "deepfakes." These are then paired with fabricated news and social media posts to encourage investment, typically in cryptocurrencies or trading platforms. The celebrity endorsement, seemingly professional content, and the allure of high pay make it difficult to fall for the scam.
In 2024, Google updated its "Misrepresentation Policy" to address scams involving impersonation of public figures in Google ads. YouTube has always prohibited content that impersonates individuals or channels, as well as content that uses technical manipulation to mislead users (usually not just out of context), potentially causing serious harm. We have also developed public tools like SynthID to watermark AI-generated content for easier identification.
Safety tips:Be cautious when reading investment advice from celebrities or influencers, especially on social media. Be wary of unnatural facial expressions in videos. Investment returns that seem too good to be true usually are.
Fake travel and fake online shopping
Scammers create fake shopping, travel, and retail websites, promising incredibly low prices to trick people into buying sought-after items, luxury goods, concert tickets, and tours. These fake websites, from the design to the customer service pages, are so realistic they're difficult to distinguish. Scammers also employ tactics like "cloaking" to avoid detection, and use "flash sales" to pressure people into placing orders quickly. Victims often pay but receive nothing, end up with counterfeit goods, or even worse, have their credit cards stolen and their personal information compromised. Scammers also falsify merchant listings and use fake phone numbers to impersonate businesses. Fraud in Taiwan is most rampant during major shopping events like Singles' Day (Singles' Day) and Information Month. Scammers create elaborate fake shopping platforms and websites, targeting tech products and using various tactics to obtain credit card information.
Google proactively scans and removes phishing sites, sites using cloaking tactics, and sites impersonating legitimate businesses. We also require advertisers to complete a verification program to confirm their business and identity, giving us a better understanding of who they are and what they sell.
Safety tips:Always verify the website before buying something, especially during sales. Check the URL and security features, and be wary of anything that seems too cheap or too urgent. "About This Result" can help you verify the website's origin. "My Ad Center" provides information about advertisers and allows you to report malicious ads.
Remote control fraud
Scammers pretend to be technical support representatives from companies, banks, or government agencies, telling you there's a problem with your device, account, or security, creating a sense of panic. They use technical jargon and fake support pages to deceive you. More sophisticated scammers use caller ID spoofing and scripted storytelling. They use different tactics to target different people, impersonating familiar tech companies for older adults and gaming platforms for younger people. Their goal is to trick you into installing remote access software that allows them to take control of your device, steal personal information, bank accounts, and even steal money.
Google has multiple protections in place. Our systems proactively detect and block suspicious tech support sites and ads. Built-in safety features in Google Messages alert you when you encounter suspicious content. Legitimate businesses can also highlight their verified customer service options on Google Search. Our Safe Browsing technology also alerts you to dangerous websites and downloads.
Safety tips:Don't allow others to remotely access your device. Legitimate companies won't proactively offer technical support by phone. Contact them through official channels if you have any questions. Using two-step verification, password keys, and password management tools can help you stay more secure.
Beware of job scams
Job scammers lure job seekers with promises of high salaries, remote work, and overseas opportunities. They post fake jobs on legitimate job search websites and social media platforms, using professional-looking video interviews and elaborate onboarding processes. They also pretend to be international companies like cryptocurrency exchanges and digital marketing agencies, using fake contracts and inaccurate documents to make them appear legitimate. Besides defrauding you of fees or personal information, they may also solicit you to participate in money laundering or other illegal activities. You could unknowingly process financial transactions or cryptocurrency transfers, ultimately landing yourself in trouble for being part of a criminal ring.
Our systems detect and block suspicious job postings and potential scams, and we require additional verification from publishers to help us better understand who they are.
Safety tips:Be wary of job offers that seem too good to be true, especially those that ask you to wire money. A legitimate employer won't ask you to pay during an interview, nor will they use their personal accounts for official business. Always apply for a job through official company channels. "About This Result" can help you check the source of information.
