Google files lawsuit against scammers using trademarks to target customers with malware

Google scammers lawsuit overview: 

• Who: Google filed a lawsuit against three unknown defendants who are using Google’s trademarks to scam potential customers into downloading malware while pretending it is the Google Bard artificial intelligence program. 
• Why: The scammers claim to have the latest version of Google BardAI for download but instead are scamming potential customers and are not affiliated with Google despite using Google trademarks.
• Where: The Google scammers lawsuit was filed in federal court in Northern California.

Google filed a lawsuit against three unknown defendants accused of pretending to have the latest version of Google’s artificial intelligence program Bard for download, but instead having customers download malware.

The Google scammers use Google trademarks and logos on social media while pretending to be affiliated with Google when, in fact, they are just trying to get potential customers to download the Google malware.

The defendants use the large interest in Google Bard AI to scam customers into downloading the Google malware, the Google lawsuit says.

“Downloading the file at the link causes malware to install on the user’s device,” the Google lawsuit says. “The malware is designed to access and send the users’ social media login credentials to defendants, who then access the social media accounts using the stolen credentials. … Defendants target users with business and advertiser accounts on a large social media platform, often small businesses.” 

Defendants created multiple AI-related Facebook pages to hawk fake BardAI download, Google lawsuit says

The defendants use the names “Google AI,” “AIGoogle,” “AiGoogle,” “AIGoogle.Plus,” “AIGoogle Bard FB” and “AIGoogleBard” on Facebook, the Google lawsuit claims.

Google does not know the defendants’ actual names so filed the Google lawsuit under the fictitious John Doe names, but plans to amend the lawsuit when the true names of the defendants are discovered.

Google has recently been targeted with a pair of lawsuits, reached a settlement, had a verdict against it, attempted to dismiss a complaint and received a recommendation from the National Advertising Review Board. 

Have you downloaded and tried Google BardAI? Let us know in the comments.

The plaintiff is represented by Tiana A. Demas, Rebecca Givner-Forbes and Judd D. Lauter of Cooley LLP.

The Google scammers lawsuit is Google LLC v. Does 1-3, Case No. 5:23-cv-05823-VKD, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California San Jose Division.

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