Google has filed a landmark lawsuit against a China-based cybercrime group dubbed the Smishing Triad, accusing them of running a large-scale SMS phishing operation with Lighthouse to create fake websites and harvest data across 120 countries and more than a million victims.

Policy and legal strategy accompany the suit, as Google backs three bipartisan bills—the GUARD Act to empower retiree-targeted fraud investigations, the Foreign Robocall Elimination Act to form a taskforce against foreign robocalls, and the SCAM Act to craft a national anti-scam framework and sanctions.

A core tactic involves impersonating trusted brands, especially USPS, to coerce victims into paying for redelivery and other scams.

Experts say disrupting the major operators could deter future entrants, though cross-border challenges and extradition remain significant hurdles.

Industry observers note the Chinese phishing market is highly resilient and profitable; operators are likely to rebrand or relocate even if enforcement disrupts campaigns in the short term.

The reporting frame emphasizes cybercrime, enforcement actions, and implications for users and security practices.

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The action blends legal action with proactive policy work intended to deter scammers and prevent new entrants from joining the ecosystem.

This action is part of a broader trend of tech companies cracking down on Chinese cybercrime, alongside other investigations by Microsoft and telecoms and a DOJ indictment from early 2025.

Industry voices suggest breaking up major actors could have a wider deterrent effect across the phishing network.

Prado notes that the lawsuit’s aim is deterrence, not direct victim compensation.

Lawsuits help gather data and evidence to identify defendants, enabling wider investigations and takedowns even when suspects are initially unknown.