A new phishing scam targeting Gmail users has been reported, with victims warned not to open a fake email claiming to be from Google’s “online rewards programme”.
According to reports, the fraudulent email is titled “Online Reward Programme” and falsely claims that the recipient has been selected as a lucky user after completing a milestone Google search. It promises a special reward and congratulates the user in a highly convincing message format.
The email then prompts users to click on a link to claim their prize. However, security experts warn that the link leads to a phishing website designed to steal personal data, including bank account details and credit card information.
Several users have reportedly fallen victim to the scam, prompting Google to issue an urgent reminder that it does not send such reward emails or promotional messages.
The tech giant advised users to be cautious of pop-up messages or emails claiming they have won prizes from Google, stressing that these are scams and should be closed immediately without clicking any links.
Authorities and cybersecurity experts continue to urge the public to remain vigilant as online phishing attempts become increasingly sophisticated.
