A recent phishing campaign targeting the telecommunications and financial sectors has been uncovered by cybersecurity researchers at EclecticIQ. Discovered in late October 2024, the campaign employed a unique strategy, using Google Docs to deliver phishing links that redirected victims to fake login pages hosted on Weebly, a widely used website builder. By exploiting the trusted reputation of Google’s domain, the attackers bypassed standard email filters and endpoint protections, significantly increasing the chances of successful engagement. The use of legitimate platforms like Google Docs and Weebly allowed the threat actors to evade detection and exploit the credibility of trusted services.
The phishing pages were highly customized to target specific industries, such as telecommunications and financial institutions, with login portals that closely resembled the login pages of major brands like AT&T. This industry-specific approach made the phishing lures more convincing, as victims were more likely to trust the pages, believing they were interacting with familiar platforms. To enhance the success of their tactics, the attackers incorporated fake Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) prompts, mimicking legitimate security workflows to trick users into providing sensitive information.
In addition to the phishing attacks, the threat actors also used SIM swapping techniques to target telecom accounts. By obtaining telecom account credentials, they were able to intercept SMS-based MFA codes, further compromising victims’ security. The attackers utilized Weebly’s quick deployment features, along with dynamic DNS infrastructure, to rotate URLs frequently and evade detection by security systems. They also incorporated legitimate tracking tools, like Google Analytics, to monitor victim engagement and refine their strategies over time.
Experts suggest several countermeasures to defend against such sophisticated attacks. Organizations should implement advanced email filtering systems, particularly for cloud-shared documents like those from Google Docs. Proactive DNS monitoring, mandatory Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), and improved credential hygiene are also essential steps to protect sensitive accounts. As phishing tactics evolve, businesses must remain vigilant and adapt their security practices to combat these increasingly sophisticated threats.
