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Stop and think before you click that link! Bad Google results are increasing
So, you accidentally booked the wrong nights for an upcoming hotel reservation. Hey, it happens.
You do a quick Google search to find the hotel’s phone number, call the one at the top, and a representative answers right away. You give them your info, read off your card number, and then they hang up. Something feels … off. My friend, you may have been scammed.
Over 91% of people rely on Google for information every single day, and crooks know this. No wonder they’re hijacking Google search results to scam you.
I’ve got the scoop on how they do it and how to stay safe.
Suspicious searches
Bad news for you and me. Today’s cybercriminals use tools like ChatGPT to create insane amounts of content at lightning speed. Their goal? To snag your personal and financial information.
Google’s algorithms haven’t fully caught on, ranking bogus content at the top of your search results. Instead of reputable companies and sources popping up first, we’re seeing more and more poor-quality websites and suspicious targeted ads.
Scammers get around Google’s BS detectors by posting content on established sites, like Reddit and LinkedIn. It doesn’t stop there.
Tricks of the trade
Here are a few of the most common tricks scammers use to get to the top of your search results:
Bogus bots: Crooks create fake personas and make them look like authority figures online. They might even have a complete LinkedIn page and a trail of written articles on their area of “expertise.”
💡 Pro tip: Do a reverse image search of their profile pic and a little digging on their background. They might be totally made up.
Sly snippets: “Snippets” are highlighted webpage sections that Google ranks as popular and deems an authority on the subject. You’ll often see snippets when you Google phone numbers for airlines, tech support sites, and hotlines.
💡 Pro tip: The major red flag is speed. You usually get right through to a representative if you call these numbers. That never happens when you call an airline! They also ask for personal information (like a credit card number) right away.
Apprehensive ads: Searches often begin with a sea of sponsored ads. Sometimes, it can take a while to scroll down to the actual results.
💡 Pro tip: Keep scrolling until you get to results that don’t say “Sponsored.” Scammers are good at sneaking into this section.
Keep reading for more tips on searching safely. Be careful out there!
Savvy searching
Outsmart these jerks. Here’s how:
- If you’re looking for a phone number, go directly to a company’s official website. Contact information might be on their homepage, within a customer service area or on a contact page.
- Avoid getting fooled by a fake “expert” by doing a little bit of research on their credentials. For example, medical experts should hold real positions at reputable organizations listed on an official hospital or university website.
- Scammers love to exploit services you could otherwise get for free, like credit reports or people searches. For credit reports, head directly to one of the main credit bureaus or the Annual Credit Report website. To find info on someone, check public information records on government websites.
🤣 Bono from U2 says he’s given up on alternative search engines like Bing and will just use Google from now on. He still hasn’t found what he’s looking for.
Tags: cybercriminals, Google
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