Google Ordered to Shut Down Hundreds of Firebase Accounts Amid Bank Scam Wave
India has directed Alphabet Inc.'s Google to shut down hundreds of Firebase accounts after officials linked the platform to a wave of bank-impersonation scams. The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) identified a pattern of scammers exploiting Google's Firebase app and website development platform, which has millions of users worldwide.
According to Reuters, at least 57 Firebase-hosted websites and databases were targeted in August alone, with the I4C citing malware distribution and theft of sensitive financial data. The notices also mentioned that seven pages mimicked major lenders, including State Bank of India, ICICI Bank, and Axis Bank.
Google has not commented on the matter, but officials have warned that if flagged links are not removed within three hours, the company could face liability. This comes as part of a larger effort to combat bank scams, with the FBI warning last year about the 'Phantom Hacker' scam, which has drained over $1 billion from U.S. bank accounts since 2024.