We’re sending out this urgent alert about an email scam that’s getting passed around today.
The email looks just like a normal email inviting you to open a folder in Google Docs. When clicking the link it takes you to a screen nearly identical to a Google login. DO NOT CLICK THE LINK. Do not fill out your account info to sign in.
The hackers have used some very clever tricks to make their website appear like it is coming from Google. Once you enter your username and password, this information is sent to their servers and they have your information.
Here is an example of what it looks like:
@zeynep Just got this as well. Super sophisticated. pic.twitter.com/l6c1ljSFIX
— Zach Latta (@zachlatta) May 3, 2017
Google has just issued a statement saying they have fixed the issue:
“We have taken action to protect users against an email impersonating Google Docs, and have disabled offending accounts. We’ve removed the fake pages, pushed updates through Safe Browsing, and our abuse team is working to prevent this kind of spoofing from happening again. We encourage users to report phishing emails in Gmail.”
When browsing the web or using your email, it’s important to be very careful of what you click on. Be skeptical of unfamiliar emails or links. To get more ideas on how to keep yourself safe online, check out our recent article on digital security tips.