Gujarat Police to question Google over 5,00,000+ fake Gmail IDs linked to hoax bomb threats

Gujarat Police are set to question Google over concerns regarding the security of its Gmail platform following the arrest of a criminal network that created thousands of fake Gmail accounts for sending fake bomb threats to government offices. The network included over 5,00,000 fake Gmail accounts, according to a police official, with the accounts being used to send bomb threats inter-state since 2022.

Vivek Bheda, a senior cybercrime official from Gujarat Police, revealed that the number of fake Gmail accounts in use is unprecedented and that the police intend to formally designate Google as a subject of their investigation. Bheda emphasized the need for Google to make policy changes to prevent such security lapses in the future.

The investigation began after a hoax bomb threat was received on September 10, just before the New Delhi BRICS summit, which authorities later determined to be false. The network's leader was found to have been in contact with a buyer in Bangladesh who purchased the fake accounts in bulk to send the threatening emails. Each account used two-factor authentication, adding an extra layer of deception to the scheme.