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• Wired Security

Google is taking legal action against 25 individuals it claims are part of a Chinese smishing group operating through a phishing-as-a-service platform called Lighthouse. The group is accused of sending millions of scam texts worldwide, impersonating organizations like the USPS and toll-road companies, and stealing over a billion dollars from victims. This case is significant because it highlights the growing threat of organized cybercrime and the challenges of combating transnational scams. The lawsuit aims to dismantle the Lighthouse operation and set a precedent for other companies to follow. Readers will gain insight into the scale and complexity of modern phishing networks and the legal strategies being used to combat them.

Key facts

• Google is suing 25 individuals accused of running a global scam text operation through the Lighthouse platform.
• The Lighthouse platform enables scammers to send millions of phishing messages impersonating various organizations and steal personal and financial data.
• The scam group allegedly made over a billion dollars by targeting users in more than 120 countries.
• The Lighthouse software offers over 600 phishing templates and supports large-scale message delivery via iMessage and Google RCS.
• Google’s lawsuit seeks to dismantle the Lighthouse network and set a legal precedent against transnational cybercrime.