India has reportedly ordered Alphabet Inc.‘s (NASDAQ:GOOG) (NASDAQ:GOOGL) Google to shut down hundreds of Firebase accounts after officials linked the platform to a wave of bank-impersonation scams.
A Pattern Officials Couldn’t Ignore
According to a Reuters report, Indian officials have identified a "pattern" of scammers exploiting Google’s Firebase app and website development platform, which has millions of users worldwide.
Reuters reviewed three government notices sent to Google, in which the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) directed that at least 57 Firebase-hosted websites and databases be taken down in August alone, citing malware distribution and theft of sensitive financial data. Seven pages mimicked major lenders, including State Bank of India, ICICI Bank and Axis Bank.
Google did not immediately respond to Benzinga‘s request for comment.
What You Should Know
Google could face liability if flagged links are not removed within three hours, although the notices do not allege wrongdoing by the company itself.
In February, Google committed $15 billion to expand artificial intelligence (AI) with a major focus on strengthening digital infrastructure and connectivity in India.
Bank scams have become prominent in recent times. Last year, the FBI warned on the “Phantom Hacker” scam, which has drained more than $1 billion from U.S. bank accounts since 2024 by impersonating tech support and financial institutions.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Markus Mainka on Shutterstock.com
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