The fraud is ongoing, with new malicious ads appearing even as Google investigates.
What Google says. “We expressly prohibit ads that aim to deceive people in order to steal their information or scam them. Our teams are actively investigating this issue and working quickly to address it,” a Google spokesperson said.
However, victims report that Google’s response often lags, leaving them to detect and report the fraud themselves.
Bottom line. Advertisers should avoid using Google Search as an entry point to log in to Google Ads and implement stricter security measures, such as two-factor authentication and direct URL access, to prevent future breaches. The scams underline a broader need for increased vigilance and security in the digital advertising ecosystem.