Jakarta, CNN Indonesia —
The latest report reveals a new mode of fraud Gmail to account holders. The way to do this is that the perpetrators take advantage artificial intelligence (AI) to make phone calls to deceive users.
Sam Mitrovic, a Microsoft solutions consultant, was the first to report the new mode. He said he received a notification for an attempt to restore his Gmail account.
However, it rejected the request as it is a fairly common phishing technique with the intent of sending users to a fake login portal to stealthily harvest their credentials.
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENT
Mitrovic was not fooled and refused the request. About 40 minutes later, he received a notification that he had missed a call claiming to be from ‘Google Sydney’.
A week later, he received the same notification again. Next, about 40 minutes later, he got another call.
He picked up the phone. On the other end of the phone an American man claimed to be from Google Support and reported that there was suspicious activity on Mitrovic’s Gmail account and claimed that an attacker had been accessing his account for a week and downloading the account data.
Mitrovic said that set off alarm bells because he remembered a notification from a week earlier. He then checked the phone number the call came from, and a quick Google search showed it was a legitimate number from a Google business page.
However, knowing that common tactics used by scammers can mask where the call came from, he remained skeptical and requested an email be sent to him to confirm whether the representative in question was the real person.
When the message arrived in his inbox, it looked genuine except that one of the addresses in the “to” column was a cleverly disguised non-Google domain.
“The caller said Hello, I ignored him then about 10 seconds later, then said Hello again,” wrote Mitrovic, according to Tom’S Guide.
“At this point I released it as an AI voice because the pronunciation and spacing were too perfect,” he continued.
At that time, Mitrovic realized that it was a scam. He then hung up the phone.
However, it’s scary to think about what might have happened if he had agreed to an account recovery notice or provided credentials to the caller, allowing fraudsters to terminate control of his account.
“Scams are getting more sophisticated, more convincing and being carried out on a larger scale. People are busy and these scams sound and look legitimate enough that I would give them an A for their efforts. A lot of people will probably fall for it,” Mitrovic said.
“There are many ways to fight fraudsters, however, at an individual level, the best way is to remain vigilant, carry out basic checks as above or seek help from someone you trust,” he continued.
How to avoid fraud
Phishing scams are one of the most common ways hackers steal your personal and financial information. Unlike malware or malicious apps, these scams do not require the installation of software or other actions that could raise red flags.
Instead, hackers trick users into clicking links or downloading attachments.
Therefore, it is important not to rush when checking your Gmail inbox. Scammers often instill a sense of urgency, hoping to make users anxious or stressed enough to follow their instructions.
The key when dealing with phishing emails so as not to fall for cyber criminals’ tricks is to remain calm and alert.
Hackers often impersonate popular brands in their phishing attempts by spoofing company email addresses. Watch for obvious red flags like misspelled words or poor grammar and double-check the sender’s email address or phone number to make sure it’s correct.
Apart from that, use antivirus software on devices such as cellphones, computers or laptops. This way, the device will remain protected from malware or viruses when opening phishing emails.
[Gambas:Video CNN]
(dmi)
[Gambas:Video CNN]
Watch Out: The AI Scammers are Calling!
Well, well, well—if it isn’t our old friend impersonation, now brought to you by the sleek sophistication of artificial intelligence. Yep, folks, it seems the cyber world has decided that good old-fashioned fraud just wasn’t smart enough, so they’ve upgraded their tactics with a shiny, new digital assistant! What’s next? Scammers with a side hustle in therapy? “Tell me more about your feelings while I steal your identity!”
In a particularly eyebrow-raising case reported by CNN Indonesia, we meet Sam Mitrovic, a Microsoft solutions consultant brave enough to engage with our tech-savvy phonies. After receiving a phishing email attempting to reinstate his Gmail account, he dodged that bullet like Neo from The Matrix. But the bad guys? They weren’t finished. About 40 minutes later, Mitrovic got a call claiming to be from—drumroll, please—’Google Sydney‘. Nothing suspicious there—as if Google has a dedicated office just to help you remember your password!
On the other end of the line was an American man claiming suspicious activity was happening on Mitrovic’s account. Sounds innocent enough, right? Well, Mitrovic had his detective hat on. He checked the phone number and found it from a legit Google business page. Clever! But then again, Gary from IT can convince me he’s a GP when he wears a stethoscope. He was right to keep his skeptical hat on, like a good lawyer at a family gathering.
Red Flags, People!
A quick email peek from the ‘support’ team confirmed his suspicion: the email address was a cleverly disguised non-Google domain. Was this a case of identity theft or did the fraudster just forget to change their Zoom name? Whatever it was, it sure was a close call, folks!
One small phrase gave it away: “Hello, can you hear me?” Oh, the classic scammer-staple line—if it weren’t for the laughable robotic tone that sounded like it was trying too hard to hide those glitches, he might have been fooled. And while the AI’s voice may have been the pinnacle of tech, its conversation skills were as charming as watching paint dry. Who knew phonetics could be the Achilles’ heel of villainy?
How to Outsmart the Scammers
To avoid landing in the fraudster’s web, remember: scammers thrive on your panic! Feeling rushed? Calm down and take a breath, like you’re preparing to ask your boss for a raise. Look for red flags—misspellings, poor grammar, or the good old bait-and-switch with email domains. And let’s be honest: if their email looks like one of those Nigerian Prince schemes, you should probably just hit delete and move on with your day.
And here’s a gem of advice: use antivirus software. It’s like a digital bouncer for your devices—kicking out troublesome malware and preventing your laptop from falling into the hands of cyber-savvy crooks. If your laptop had feelings, it would thank you for this.
Remember, while it’s easy to laugh at the absurdity of AI-fueled scams, the truth is they are getting more sophisticated. It’s like watching your neighbor’s dog run the house with rental cars—and it’s only a matter of time before the average Joe buys into the hype. Stay vigilant, folks; those AI crooks aren’t going anywhere, and neither should your guard!
In the end, keep your wits about you. The world of phony calls and phishing scams is vast and terrifically entertaining. Let’s keep it to the comedians and leave the scams to the surrealists!
