Google has revealed the biggest scam trends to look out for in 2025.
Scammers are pretending to be support agents from trusted brands.
During the vacation season, scammers create fake travel sites offering huge discounts.
Online scams are becoming more advanced and harder to spot. Even as people get better at recognising fake messages and websites, scammers are stepping up their game using smarter tools and trickier tactics. According to the Global Anti-Scam Alliance, cybercriminals stole a staggering $1 trillion worldwide in 2024 alone. In the US, the Federal Trade Commission reported a 25 percent rise in fraud-related losses compared to the previous year.
In a blogpost, Google has outlined the biggest scam trends to look out for in 2025. From fake travel websites to toll road frauds, here are the top scam trends that Google has warned of.
1. Fake customer support
Scammers are pretending to be support agents from trusted brands. They use fake phone numbers to trick users into sharing sensitive information. “We’ve long blocked ads for third-party tech support and have a dedicated feature to provide official customer service information in Search. Additionally, Chrome recently added AI-powered protection using the on-device Gemini Nano large language model to further safeguard users from dangerous sites, including these types of scams,” Google stated.
Also read: Pune man loses Rs 65,000 in credit card reward points scam: Here’s what happened
2. Malvertising
Fraudsters are hiding malware in online ads. They often target people seeking free or pirated software. But now, they’re also targeting users with crypto wallets or large online followings. Google uses AI and manual checks to block harmful ads and bans violators instantly.
3. Fake travel websites
During the vacation season, scammers create fake travel sites offering huge discounts. These sites copy real hotels and agencies to fool people into paying for fake bookings.
4. Package tracking scams
Package tracking scams take advantage of the popularity of online shopping and home deliveries by sending fake messages that look like they’re from trusted delivery companies. These scams typically trick people into paying extra fees that genuine delivery services would never charge.
Also read: Bengaluru couple loses Rs 4.7cr to digital arrest scam: Here’s what happened and how to stay safe
5. Toll road scams
Just like the surge in online shopping led to a wave of package tracking scams, the growing popularity of cashless toll systems has opened the door to a new kind of fraud: toll road scams. In these schemes, scammers send fake text messages claiming you owe unpaid toll fees. These scams follow a similar pattern as package delivery fraud and are often carried out by the same cybercriminal groups.
Follow Us
Ayushi Jain
Tech news writer by day, BGMI player by night. Combining my passion for tech and gaming to bring you the latest in both worlds. View Full Profile
