Scammers Caught Red-Handed

In a bold move to protect its digital domain, Google has slapped three anonymous individuals with a lawsuit for creating fraudulent advertisements promoting fake updates for its AI chatbot, Bard. These advertised ‘updates’ were nothing more than malware in disguise, designed to sneak into users’ computers when downloaded. Talk about a sneaky maneuver!

The Fine Print of Deception

Filed on November 13, this lawsuit refers to the defendants simply as “DOES 1-3”. It’s the legal equivalent of calling someone “the guy in the ski mask.” Google claims that these tricksters took advantage of its trademarks, including “Google, Google AI, and Bard,” reeling in unsuspecting victims with faux updates that promised the moon.

An Elaborate Ruse

Google showcased some fascinating examples of the scammers’ handiwork, which included deceptive social media pages that seemed to be official. These pages featured spurious content and enticing invitations to download Bard and other AI tools for free. Because nothing screams “legitimate” like a product that’s too good to be true! 🕵️‍♂️

How Users Became Victims

• Phishing Links: Unsuspecting users clicked on what they thought was an official download link, only to unwittingly install malware on their systems.
• Credential Harvesting: The malware was primarily designed to exploit business and advertising accounts, posing a serious threat to digital security.

What Google Wants

As part of its legal comeback, Google is asking the court for more than just a slap on the wrist for the defendants. They’re seeking damages, attorney fees, and profits accrued from this scam, along with a permanent injunction. In short, Google wants to bring these wrongdoers to justice and restore order in the tech world.

The Bigger Picture

This lawsuit underscores the whirlwind of challenges facing AI companies today. With AI services rapidly becoming mainstream, Google’s Bard boasts nearly 50 million unique visitors each month, while OpenAI’s ChatGPT has eclipsed that with over 100 million. But with popularity comes peril, as demonstrated by this legal confrontation.

Interestingly, this isn’t Google’s first dance in the courtroom. They recently found themselves facing a class-action lawsuit over alleged privacy violations stemming from their updated privacy policies tailored for AI training. It seems like the AI market is not just growing—it’s also becoming a legal battleground!