Google Ads Found to Deliver Tech Support Scam Targeting Users

<p>Researchers have identified that Google ads are distributing a sophisticated tech support scam that freezes the screens of both Windows and Mac devices, displaying messages that instruct users to contact a fraudulent call center.</p><p>The ads appeared across various high-traffic websites, including maps, weather, real estate, document-hosting, and sports sites. Users who contacted the provided phone number were encouraged to pay significant fees, grant remote access to their devices, or share personal information. From August 31 to September 14, security firm Netskope reported that users from 619 customer organizations clicked on these malicious ads, but none were actually scammed as Netskope blocked the content.</p><p>Approximately 62 percent of the affected organizations were located in the US, with Japan and Australia ranking second and third, respectively. Since Netskope monitors only a small portion of internet activity, the actual number of individuals exposed to the ads, including those who may have fallen victim, is likely much higher. The firm tracked over 250 Google Ads campaign IDs across at least 284 legitimate publisher sites.</p>