Google has warned millions of Gmail users about a common scam impersonating the email service’s technical support team.
If you need to recover your account credentials or change your password, Google has warned people to be sceptical of any support which reaches out with unsolicited support.
It said there is only one way to officially seek Gmail tech support, and that is through Gmail’s Help Centre site.
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But pop-ups and scam phone calls attempting to steal banking information and personal data from users have prompted the tech giant to release a warning.
“Be aware of third-party websites or pop-ups that claim to offer technical support for Gmail and other Google products,” it said.
“These contacts and their websites have no affiliation to Google and may claim to provide password reset assistance as well as other Gmail-related support services.”
It also claims some of the scams have requested payment from users, something official affiliated tech services would never do.
“In addition, these sites may require the submission of payment for their support services,” Google said.
“Google does not charge users to recover their account credentials or change their password.”
Pop-ups aren’t the only way these scams are targeting users — Google said hackers are also calling users directly.
“In other cases, these websites may call you and claim that your Google account was hijacked or that your computer has a virus or other malware on it,” Google said.
“Google does not provide phone-based support for Gmail, and these calls are not affiliated with Google.
“These contacts may deceive you into providing your username and password (account credentials) which may result in your account being compromised and ‘unlocked’ for a fee.
“Do not provide your account credentials to anyone purporting to be from Google.”
Google also shared the red flags to be aware of, and the “golden rules” to follow when faced with an email which claims to be from Google.
“Slow it down — scams are often designed to create a sense of urgency. Take time to ask questions and think it through,” Google said.
“Spot check — do your research to double-check the details you are getting. Does what they’re telling you make sense?
“Stop. Don’t send — no reputable person or agency will ever demand payment or your personal information on the spot.”
