How Cybercriminals Are Using Google Cloud to Trick Your Inbox
Recently, security experts uncovered a major scam where attackers are using Google Cloud tools to send very convincing fake emails. These messages look like they come from a trusted Google address, which makes people more likely to open them without thinking twice.
The scammers are taking advantage of a feature in Google Cloud that is normally used by businesses to send automated messages, like alerts or permission requests. Because these emails are sent from a real Google domain, they can slip past spam and security filters and end up right in someone’s inbox. To most people, these messages look completely normal and trustworthy.
The fake emails are designed to imitate everyday business notifications, such as alerts about new voicemails or invitations to look at a shared file. This familiarity tricks people into clicking on links inside the email, thinking they are legitimate. When a user clicks one of these links, they are first taken to another trusted Google-hosted page that loads without raising suspicion.
From there, the link eventually leads to a fake login page that looks like a real Microsoft login screen. If a person enters their username and password, the attackers capture those details and can later use them to break into their account. Because the hackers use Google’s own services as stepping stones, this whole process seems very credible to email filters and users alike.
This phishing campaign isn’t small — thousands of emails were sent to organizations around the world over just a few weeks. The targets include companies in industries like technology, finance, and manufacturing, but the scam could affect anyone who receives one of these deceptive messages.
Google has taken steps to block the misuse of this email feature and prevent the attackers from continuing their campaign. That said, this situation highlights how cybercriminals are getting more creative by abusing legitimate tools that people and businesses rely on every day.
For regular users, this kind of scam shows why it’s important to be cautious about unexpected emails, even if they look like they come from a trusted source. Always double-check the sender, avoid clicking links unless you’re sure they are safe, and never enter your login credentials on a page you weren’t expecting. Taking a moment to think can save you from handing your personal information to someone pretending to be a familiar service.
