Chinese cybercrime operation that used AI to scam 'hundreds of thousands of victims' sued by Google

Key Points:

• Google has filed a lawsuit against a Chinese cybercrime network called Outsider Enterprise, accusing it of using AI-powered tools to send scam texts impersonating Google and other brands to steal passwords and credit card information.
• Outsider Enterprise allegedly scammed hundreds of thousands of victims, deploying 9,000 fake websites, one million fraudulent domains, and sending 2.5 million texts to Android users in just two weeks, causing estimated losses in the millions.
• The group operates a phishing software suite called Outsider, sold for $88-$200 per month, which allows criminals with limited technical skills to create fake websites using AI, including Google's Gemini, to harvest sensitive data in real time.
• Google collaborates with major telecom providers and the FBI to block scam messages and has helped seize domains and storefronts linked to the operation, which is estimated to have stolen at least 3.87 million credit cards and caused $1.9 billion in losses since July 2023.
• The lawsuit accuses Outsider Enterprise of copyright infringement, racketeering, wire fraud, and false advertising, seeking damages and an injunction to halt their criminal activities.