Researchers at security firm Trend Micro have discovered the trick, which seeks to get AdWords users to hand over credit card details.

Google AdWords is a service used by advertisers to get their products seen online and is employed by all kinds of companies, both small and large.

Phishing gangs send AdWords customers an email telling them that their last payment has not been successful and asking them to update their payment information for Google AdWords.

The link displayed in the email body is a legitimate one but the actual website it takes you to is a compromised site, where the details are stolen.

Rik Ferguson at Trend Micro said: "In many ways, Google can be seen as a victim of its own success. As its market share has increased along with the variety of products and services it offers, so its value to the cybercriminal as a platform to exploit has grown alongside it".

www.trendmicro.com

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