Home Advice & How-ToSafety Everything You Need to Know About Google Chat Scams
Home Advice & How-ToSafety Everything You Need to Know About Google Chat Scams

Everything You Need to Know About Google Chat Scams

by Cyrus Grant
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In modern times we often associate pirates with fantastical stories about adventurous criminals of the sea, plundering ships and fighting for treasure.  While the idea of old-timey buccaneers sounds entertaining, modern-day pirates have traded in swashbuckling and ships for keyboards and the internet. 

Cybercriminals have no shortage of methods to scam victims out of money and other assets, and with every new online platform, a dozen new scams pop up.  One of those platforms is Google Chat (previously known as Google Hangouts).  What was once intended to be used to collaborate and engage with coworkers or friends, has turned into a ripe ground for potential scams.  

How Google Chat Scams Work 

Here’s how Google Chat Scams typically unfold

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Step 1: Engage Online

Like many other modern scams, Google Chat scams typically begin with a simple, seemingly innocent message, sent to you from a stranger.  While sometimes you’ll receive a message directly in Google Chat, oftentimes the scammer will reach out to you on some other platform like Facebook, Instagram, Tinder, etc.

The initial message can vary based on what the scammers think is most effective, but the messages tend to start from either a romantic ploy or a money-making “opportunity.” 

Step 2: Move the Conversation to Google Chat

Once the scammer thinks they have you at least partially hooked, they’ll then suggest moving the conversation over to Google Chat, claiming that it is “more secure.”

Why Google Chat?  Well, there are a couple of reasons:

  1. Google Chat tends to have a better reputation for security compared to social media, so scammers attempt to use that to try and establish a false sense of trust and safety.
  2. By moving to Google Chat from other platforms, they save themselves the hassle of having to create new profiles on those platforms, as using a single profile to conduct mass scam attempts will quickly get flagged and banned.

Step 3: The Scam

Once scammers have you on Google Chat, it’s time for them to really get to work.  After a short period of casual conversation (generally about romance or business), the scammers will then begin to make their move on getting you to send them some money under the guise of a promise such as “I need money to come visit you,” or “I guarantee if you send the money you’ll get 10 times return on investment.”

Sometimes scammers won’t go directly to asking for money.  Instead, they’ll use your conversation to gain access to personal information or private photos, which they then use as blackmail.  Alternatively, they can also attempt to send you links that once clicked on, infect your device with malware that can give the scammers access to everything on your computer, and potentially even allow them to remotely control your device (including access to your webcam and microphone).

young woman at laptop in kitchen being targeted by google chat scam

Common Types of Google Chat Scams 

Romance Scams 

Using romance to scam people isn’t new, yet these scams continue to be massively successful for scammers every year.  These types of scams are usually done via catfishing, where someone uses stolen pictures of someone attractive to dupe people on the internet into thinking they are in a relationship with the person in the pictures.

These scams take a certain level of commitment by the scammer, and are typically done over a longer period of time.  During this time, the scammer will engage with you as if you are in a relationship, and even do things like send small gifts to build trust and emotional connection.  Once they know they have you hooked, the scam will shift to catphishing and they’ll use the fake relationship to get money, other goods, or even deeply personal or private information.

Giveaway Scams 

Congratulations, you won!  What did you win?  A whole lot of headaches if you fall for a giveaway scam.  Giveaway scams aim to make you believe you won a giveaway in order for you to willingly give over far too much information.  These scams can also be used to steal money, and go something like this:

  • They tell you that you won a giveaway for something like $100.
  • They get all your information and then make it look like they accidentally sent you $1000.
  • They then try and explain to you that a mistake was made and request you send them $900 to make up for the accident.
  • Once you’ve done that, they cancel the initial $1000, leaving you out $900.

Employment Scams 

Most people dream of making it big, so when a random message pops up in your Google Chat inbox claiming to be from an employer in your industry, there’s a good chance you’ll be interested.   With these scams, scammers usually get your information from fake job openings they posted, or even by just scrolling through LinkedIn profiles.  They then use this information to craft exciting and lucrative job offers, that sadly just end up being a way for them to steal from you.

Investment Scams 

These types of scams can actually be pretty in-depth, so remember to always be skeptical of someone randomly offering you a way to make “free” money.  Investment scams often involve a fake business with all kinds of convincing pitch decks and model numbers.  Sometimes, they even function a bit like a Ponzi scheme where they will give you back more money than you initially invested, only to get you to invest a higher amount that they then disappear with. 

Extortion Scams 

Extortion scams can be executed through a few different types of scam tactics, but the end goal is to blackmail you using private information they have somehow gathered.  It can often be via pictures you sent them due to a false sense of trust, or even by images they’ve taken from hacking your webcam (generally through a link you unwittingly clicked on).

young man uncovering google chat scam

Spotting a Scammer

While scammers are always coming up with new ways to pull one over on people, there are a few things to always look out for when dealing with a potentially suspicious interaction.

  1. They ask for money.  It should be pretty obvious, but unless you are 100% certain you know who you are dealing with, never send someone.  Regardless of the promises they make, or the compelling stories they compose, when someone asks for money online, it’s almost certainly a scam.
  2. They message you “on accident.”  A very common way scammers begin their scheme is by sending a message that is seemingly for another person, such as, “do you still want to grab drinks at 5?”  They do this hoping that you’ll respond letting them know they have the wrong person.  They will then usually come up with some story that keeps the conversation going until they are ready to make their next move.
  3. They attempt to use your emotions.  Most common in dating scams, scammers will try to quickly build some semblance of trust and a relationship, in order to then use your emotions to overlook the red flags of their scam.  Regardless of how you might feel, always try to let logic win when dealing with someone online.
  4. They make you think luck is on your side.  If you get a message out of nowhere claiming you won that giveaway you never entered (trust us, your friends didn’t enter you either), or someone came across your resume and thinks you are perfect for a position that pays 10x your current salary, be very skeptical.  While you never know when you’ll hit a patch of luck, always remember that when things seem too good to be true, it’s because they probably aren’t true.
  5. They are being too nosey.  Some scammers are primarily after your information, or getting you to reveal as much about yourself as possible.  If these conversations are completely one-sided, it’s a good indication that you’re dealing with a scammer.  Even if they are sharing information, pay attention to how realistic it is, and just as a general rule, don’t overshare with anyone you don’t know in real life.

Staying Safe On Google Chat 

Google Chat isn’t necessarily a dangerous service to use, especially if you know how to keep scammers away.  Staying safe on Google Chat really comes down to looking out for all of the scams mentioned above, and to just generally be wary of strangers on the internet.  

Another thing you can do if you are making connections online, is invest some time into doing some background research on the people you are interacting with.  Note, while social media can be a good starting place, experienced scammers will have set up convincing profiles, in which case it never hurts to use a people search tool such as Spokeo to help verify that the person you’re interacting on Google Chat with is who they say they are.

Cyrus Grant is a writer from Southern California with a background in marketing, dispute resolution, law, and politics. When he isn’t writing he can be found deep-diving into the latest technology trends or simply spending time at the beach.