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Introduction: When Trust Becomes a Trap
In the digital age, brand trust is everything — and cybercriminals are exploiting it with increasing sophistication. A new tech support scam is gaining traction, where fraudsters trick users into calling fake customer service numbers by manipulating real websites through search parameter injection. It’s a form of social engineering that looks so legitimate, even cautious users might fall victim. Using paid Google ads and clever overlays, scammers are now blending into the very webpages users trust most — including those of Apple, PayPal, Microsoft, and Netflix. Here’s what’s happening, how it works, and how to avoid getting duped.
the Original
A disturbing new method of tech support fraud has emerged, leveraging legitimate brand websites to trick users into contacting fake support numbers. Cybercriminals are buying sponsored ads on Google that appear to represent popular companies like Apple, HP, PayPal, and others. When a user clicks on these ads, they are redirected not to a fake website, but to a real help or support section of the brand’s site.
However, the twist is that the fraudsters inject malicious parameters into the search URL, enabling them to display a fake customer support number in place of the real one. This tactic — known as search parameter injection — makes the scam especially dangerous, because the domain and webpage appear completely authentic. Once the user calls the displayed number, they are connected to scammers posing as official representatives. These criminals often attempt to phish for sensitive data, obtain credit card details, or convince victims to grant remote access to their devices.
Researchers Pieter Arntz and Jérôme Segura of Malwarebytes Labs exposed this trend and advised users to be highly cautious. Warning signs include seeing a phone number in the URL, encountering urgent phrases like “call now,” or receiving search results before entering any keywords. They recommend double-checking support numbers via prior communications or official brand pages, and watching for in-browser security alerts.
What Undercode Say:
The emergence of search parameter injection attacks represents an evolution in scam methodology — and a troubling one. Unlike traditional phishing attempts that rely on poorly designed clones or typo-ridden domains, this attack leverages real infrastructure from trusted brands. That makes it more believable, harder to detect, and far more dangerous.
This technique weaponizes the user’s own trust and browser habits against them. Most people don’t scrutinize URLs or source code when visiting a help page from a known brand. Seeing “apple.com” in the address bar naturally creates a sense of safety. What many fail to realize is that web pages can be manipulated on the client side using embedded parameters or DOM-level overlays — and scammers are now exploiting this gray zone.
The attack also raises concerns about the unchecked power of paid search engine placements. By allowing virtually anyone to purchase ads under the guise of a brand name, platforms like Google inadvertently facilitate these scams. This is not a bug in the system — it’s a byproduct of how search engines monetize visibility. Until stronger ad verification processes are put in place, this will continue to be a fertile ground for cybercriminals.
Moreover, this kind of fraud is not just a technical problem — it’s a psychological one. It preys on the panic that comes with malfunctioning devices or urgent account issues. That’s why phrases like “emergency support” or “call now” are so effective: they short-circuit rational thinking.
Preventing these scams requires a multilayered approach: technical defenses (such as browser-based phishing detection), corporate responsibility (brands need to monitor misuse of their domain search features), and public awareness campaigns. Consumers must be trained to pause and verify before dialing a number — especially one found through a search engine.
In sum, the scam works because it feels real. But its effectiveness relies on small, manipulable details — and understanding them is the first step toward better protection.
🔍 Fact Checker Results
✅ Legitimate sites were used as attack vectors via URL injection — verified by Malwarebytes Labs.
✅ Google Ads were exploited to promote these malicious links — confirmed by researchers.
❌ No brands were directly hacked — the scams only appear to originate from trusted sources.
📊 Prediction
Expect this type of scam to escalate in the next 6–12 months, especially targeting older demographics and small businesses. With AI-assisted ad generation and more affordable phishing kits, these attacks will likely become harder to distinguish from legitimate support. Search engines will face increasing pressure to improve ad vetting and URL sanitization, while cybersecurity companies will need to develop better browser-based heuristics for detecting malicious overlays and injected search results. Tech literacy training will be essential to keep the average user safe.
References:
Reported By: www.darkreading.com
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