Google Told to Remove Fake Bank Websites Impersonating Major Indian Banks

The Indian government has asked Google to remove Firebase web development accounts that impersonate major bank websites and mobile apps, according to sources.

The notices sent by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the ministry of home affairs identified 57 web sites and databases that mimicked Android apps of prominent banks, including State Bank of India, ICICI Bank, and Axis Bank.

The fake pages used tactics such as reward-point redemption offers and credit card limit upgrades to defraud users. Seven of these websites were phishing pages, while the others collected data stolen from victims' phones, including credit card details and one-time passwords (OTPs).

Google responded to the government notice by stating that it has 'strict policies' prohibiting the use of its services for 'phishing, malware, or financial fraud'. The company said it works closely with law enforcement and government agencies in India, including I4C.