Hibiscus Coast locals should be on alert for a new and sophisticated phishing scam targeting Gmail users.

This latest scam combines spoofed emails with AI-driven calls, a tactic designed to deceive even the most cautious tech users.

Sam Mitrovic, a Microsoft solutions consultant, shared his experience of being targeted by one such attack.

It began with a Gmail account recovery notification, which he quickly denied.

Shortly after, Mitrovic received a missed call from a number he recognised as Google’s Sydney office.

Though initially dismissive, he was contacted again a week later with another recovery request and a follow-up call from what seemed to be Google Support.

Despite the convincing setup, Mitrovic became suspicious.

“The email address looked off, and the voice on the call was too perfect, like an AI-generated voice,” he noted.

These discrepancies ultimately alerted him to the scam.

The hackers reportedly use AI-generated voices, coupled with seemingly authentic Google phone numbers, to manipulate users into revealing their Gmail credentials.

Mitrovic’s quick thinking and scrutiny helped him spot the scam, but he emphasised how easily it could deceive others.

“This isn’t your usual phishing attempt; it’s well-crafted to trick experienced users.”

In response to these rising threats, Google has joined forces with the Global Anti-Scam Alliance (GASA) and the DNS Research Federation to develop the Global Signal Exchange.

This new platform leverages Google Cloud’s AI capabilities to share real-time insights and disrupt scams across the globe.

While this initiative aims to combat online scams more effectively, Google urges users to remain vigilant.

Key advice includes checking sender details carefully, avoiding suspicious links, and installing reliable antivirus software to safeguard against phishing threats.