Google has filed a lawsuit aimed at dismantling an alleged Chinese cybercrime network that the company says used artificial intelligence and large-scale phishing operations to steal passwords, credit card information and other sensitive data from consumers.
According to information published by Google, the lawsuit targets an organised cybercrime operation known as the “Outsider Enterprise.” The company said it is coordinating with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) as part of efforts to disrupt the network and its infrastructure.
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Google Targets Alleged Phishing Network
Google alleged that the group is based in China and coordinates activities through Telegram. The company said the network distributes phishing kits that enable criminals to conduct large-scale text message campaigns designed to appear as if they originate from Google and other trusted brands.
The lawsuit seeks to dismantle the infrastructure used by the operation. Google said the network has already caused consumers millions of dollars in losses.
According to the company, investigators have identified approximately 9,000 fake websites and more than one million fraudulent URLs linked to the alleged cybercrime enterprise.
Millions of Messages Linked to Operation
Google said Android users reported 55,000 spam text messages over a two-week period in May. During the same period, the company said 2.5 million messages containing links to websites generated by the Outsider Enterprise were sent to Android users.
The company described the scale of the activity as significant and said the operation relied on phishing infrastructure designed to imitate legitimate organisations and services.
Google stated that legal action forms part of a broader effort that also includes collaboration with telecommunications providers to prevent fraudulent messages from reaching users.
FBI Backs Enforcement Effort
In a statement cited by Google, FBI Cyber Division official Brett Leatherman said the individuals behind the Outsider Enterprise built a business around impersonating trusted brands to defraud large numbers of victims.
Leatherman also said cybercriminals are increasingly using artificial intelligence to make fraud attempts more convincing and more difficult to detect. He added that collaboration between law enforcement agencies and private-sector partners can help disrupt criminal networks on a larger scale.
Google said it will continue working with the FBI, as well as telecommunications companies including AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon, while also advocating for federal legislation aimed at making such protections permanent.
