UPDATED: August 21, 2022

Did you receive a security alert from Google? Are you wondering if it’s real and what you should do with it?

Scammers can fake security alerts to steal information. If you use your Google accounts regularly for personal and work purposes, you should know how to stay safe from fraudsters.

It’ll be a huge disaster if cybercriminals get their hands on your personal and financial data. That’s why you need to learn how to spot and protect yourself against fake Google security alerts.

We checked official Google sources to learn how real security alerts work. We also reviewed different cybersecurity sources online to learn about the warning signs and security measures to keep fake security alerts at bay.

Stay with us until the end for a unique tip to keep yourself safe from fake Google security alerts. Don’t miss out on any of these critical tips to minimize your vulnerability to cyberattacks.  

How to tell if a critical security alert is a scam

You receive security alerts from online services to notify you of suspicious activities. In most cases, authorized individuals perform certain actions that trigger the alert.

Sometimes, you need to check the warning to verify if the activity in question is legitimate. But, there are cases when the security alert isn’t even real.

What is Google’s critical security alert?

Google sends you notifications through email whenever it notices suspicious activities in your account. These security alerts aim to help prevent unauthorized individuals from accessing your account.

Google will send you an email notification during the following instances:

  • An unauthorized person signed in on a new device.
  • Someone signed in on your account from a different location.
  • Someone tried to view your stored password. 

What is a fake Google critical security alert?

Cybercriminals copy real Google warnings to trick their victims into providing their login details and other private information.

Google will send an email to notify you that it blocked a recent attempt to access your account. Hackers are good at making fake security emails look legit.

You should be careful whenever you get messages that ask for your personal information, such as identification numbers, usernames, and passwords.

Always remember that you may fall prey to scammers who are looking to get money from you or steal your information. 

How can you tell if a Google critical security alert is fake?

Fraudsters know how to make security alerts look as legitimate as possible. Can you really tell if it’s fake?

Yes, you can.

  1. Check your recent Google account activity. The timing of a legitimate alert will match a specific activity on your account. If not, then the email is possibly fake.
  2. In case you’re still unsure whether the notification is authentic, you should check the email for indications of forgery.

A legitimate email comes from a .google.com domain. If the email address contains something else, then it might be a phishing email.

  1. Check the name of the sender. Don’t click any link or reply to the email if it doesn’t look like it came from a legitimate Google account.
  2. Review the content quality. Check for grammatical errors and unusual writing styles.

To avoid the possibility of getting scammed, you should never open any links until you’ve verified that it’s legitimate.

What to do if the activity was you or not?

If the security alert is legitimate, you should check the device or location sign-in details. If you intentionally performed the activity, then all you need to do is choose “Yes,” as the answer to the question, “Do you recognize this activity.”

There are a few things you need to do if you weren’t responsible for the activity in question.

  • Review the device or location sign-in details.
  • If you didn’t do the activity listed, click on the button that says, “No, secure account.”
  • Follow the instructions to secure your account, which includes changing your password.

What happens if you fall for critical security alert scams?

If you become a victim of fake security alerts, hackers can cause a lot of damage to your personal and financial life.

Hackers can do the following:

  • Steal your passwords
  • Take screenshots of your device
  • Change, steal, or delete your files
  • Install malware on your device

What can you do if you think you’re a victim of a fake critical security alert?

Unfortunately, some people may fall victim to critical security alert scams. If you’re one of them, there are things you can do to minimize the damage.

  • Change the passwords of your accounts.
  • Cancel your credit or debit cards if you provided your credit card details.
  • Scan your device for any malicious software that may have been installed.

Tips to avoid fake Google critical security alerts

Hackers will always try to find ways to scam people and that includes creating fake Google security alerts. Fortunately, there are things you can do to avoid getting scammed.

What to do if you get a Google critical security alert?

The first thing you need to do when you receive a Google critical security alert is to check its legitimacy.

Here are the steps you need to take:

  1. Visit Google’s recent security activity page.
  2. Check recent alerts, specifically location and device information.
  3. Secure your account if you notice any unfamiliar activities.
  4. Sign out of all the listed devices and change your password.
  5. If there’s no activity linked to the security alert you received, then the notification may be fake.
  6. Never click on suspicious links.
  7. Use strong and unique passwords.

There is one unique tip to help you avoid security alert scams. When you receive an email notification, you can check the email headers for signs of forgery.

  1. Open your Gmail account.
  2. Open the message you want to check.
  3. Click on the more button in the upper right-hand corner. It’s the three dots lined vertically.
  4. Choose Show original.
  5. Go through the information within the headers and look for signs that the email isn’t from Google, such as a suspicious return path.

Can you get rid of Google security warning malware or virus?

You can delete the malware installed on your device during the scam if you can locate it. However, doing so will require some technical knowledge.

You can download a third-party anti-virus program or seek the help of an IT professional to get rid of the malware or virus from your device.

Conclusion

Knowledge and vigilance are the two best defenses against scammers. By knowing how to spot fake Google security alerts, it won’t be easy for scammers to trick you into giving out your personal details.

However, even the most tech-savvy individual can fall into their trap. That’s why you need to learn the methods used by fraudsters and set up effective security measures to keep you and your information safe.