Google Phishing - A Lesson in Thinking Before We Click

I am very doubtful that you have not heard of the massive Google Phishing Scam that happened on May 3rd, 2017. In the scam, someone that has previously had correspondence via email with you before sends you a Google Doc invitation. This, in and of itself, seems relatively harmless. We routinely share Google Docs back and forth. The unique part of the scam is that it seems genuine and is designed to get you to click.

Once you click, you are prompted to sign in on an elaborately coded and designed page to mimic that Google Sign On page. This is where the scam is. If you are logged into your Gmail account, Google would never ask you to sign in again to access that document! It was shared with your email. Google knows who you are.

The Phishing Email: Please notice the "hhhhhhhhhhhhh" email address. It also does not provide the link.

A true Google Docs share request. Notice the branding, the emails, and the link in the email.

Regardless, this scam got many people. Many people that work with Google Tools on a regular basis. The point is, we have done this many times. Please pay attention to the smaller details when using the internet to ensure that you are not being taken advantage of.

If you clicked, or know someone who did, this is a helpful guide to assist you in removing the permissions that were granted in the phishing email.

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