Alphabet’s Google filed a lawsuit against the alleged Chinese cybercriminal group “Darcula.” The suit targets the group for orchestrating a massive phishing campaign.
The complaint alleges Darcula developed and utilized a malicious software kit. This kit sent fraudulent text messages, often impersonating Google services like YouTube Premium. The goal was to trick users into revealing sensitive financial data, including credit card numbers.
At its peak, the "Darcula" operation was responsible for up to 80% of all phishing messages. Over seven months, the group successfully stole nearly 900,000 credit card numbers.
Google seeks court authorization to dismantle the web infrastructure used by the scammers. This legal action is part of a broader effort by tech companies to disrupt cybercrime operations exploiting their brands.