That Urgent Security warning from Google may be a trap: What to do and not to do if you get such a notification

Scammers are now targeting users with sophisticated

phishing emails

. The fraudsters are stealing passwords by mimicking official Google Security warnings. The scammers use ‘Urgent Security’ notification to trick users into handing over their Google account credentials. The scam works on user’s anxiety by impersonating official security alerts. With 2.5 billion

Gmail users

worldwide, the platform is a constant target. According to Google, only 36% of users regularly update their passwords, a key vulnerability that hackers exploit.According to a report by news agency PTI, the attackers take advantage of the trust users have in Google’s security infrastructure by sending fake alerts which claim suspicious activity has been detected on their accounts. These messages often prompt sires to “secure their account immediately” by clicking on a link. The link then leads to a malicious website which is designed to steal their credentials or install malware.

What to do if you receive a notification

In case you receive any such

fake notifications

then try to remain calm and refrain from clicking on the link. Also, you follow to below mentioned steps:- Go directly to Google: The best and safest way to check for a security issue is to open a new browser tab and navigate directly to your Google Account. Now you can go to the security section and check all your recent activities.

- Check the sender: It is A common sign of a phishing email is a fake sender address. While the display name might say "Google Security," the actual email address will often be a long of a jumbled string of letters.- Report suspicious messages to Google via their phishing reporting tool.- Enable two-factor authentication: For better protection always enable two-factor authentication on your Google account.

What you should not do

If you fall into the scamming trap then there are chances that you may loose your data or your ID can also get stolen. To avoid this, be sure to avoid these common mistakes:- Don't Click the Link: Always avoid clicking on the unexpected link. Phishing links will always lead you to fake login pages and malicious websites.- Don’t enter your password or personal information unless you’re certain the site is legitimate.- Don’t enter your password or personal information unless you’re certain the site is legitimate.