Google takes legal action to dismantle AI-driven SMS scam network

Google has filed a lawsuit aimed at shutting down an alleged cybercrime operation that used artificial intelligence to supercharge its text-message fraud campaigns. The company named Outsider Enterprise, a network it says is based in China, as the operator behind a scheme that tricked hundreds of thousands of people into handing over passwords and credit card numbers.

According to Google's complaint, the group built a sprawling infrastructure to impersonate trusted brands, including Google itself. In a two-week window, it spun up 9,000 fake websites, registered 1 million fraudulent domain names, and sent 2.5 million scam texts to Android users. Losses from the operation are estimated in the millions of dollars.

"In May alone, Android users flagged 55,000 spam texts - more than two complaints every minute," Google noted in its announcement.

The company says it is fighting fire with fire, using its own AI-based detection systems to identify and block suspicious messages. Those tools now intercept over 10 billion scam texts each month. Google also confirmed it has been working with AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon to stop the fraudulent messages from reaching users, and is coordinating with the FBI on law enforcement actions.

The FBI did not comment on the case. Google's move signals a growing willingness among tech firms to pursue legal remedies against organized cybercrime operations that weaponize AI at scale.

Source: TechCrunch