KUALA LUMPUR, May 10 -- Malaysians have been repeatedly warned to be on high alert as scammers increasingly mimic Google alerts, search ads and mobile apps to steal passwords, banking details and one-time codes.

But how do you know what's a red flag, and what can you do to stay safe?

Google Malaysia country managing director Ben King said scammers are deliberately designing messages and websites to look familiar and trustworthy, making them harder to detect.

"Simple habits such as pausing before clicking on links, verifying the source of messages, and avoiding downloads from unfamiliar channels can go a long way in preventing scams," he said in a recent interview.

The most common trap - fake Google emails

These scam emails often clai...