The Hungarian Competition Authority (GVH) has initiated a competition law procedure against Google, suspecting that Google Ireland Limited did not adequately check phishing advertisements on its Google Ads platform. As a result, these ads appeared as paid content at the top of Google search results, potentially leading consumers to risky websites and compromising their banking credentials.

The GVH observed that since March 15, 2025, Google Ireland Limited likely did not operate its Google Ads platform with the required professional diligence. The global tech giant is suspected of failing to ensure that the displayed phishing ads complied with its own guidelines and legal requirements, and it neglected to timely disable phishing domain accounts despite recognizing their danger.

Consequently, fraudulent banking websites impersonating MBH Bank, such as mbhbank.nu, mhbbauk.com, and mhhbunk.com, appeared as paid advertisements at the top of Google search results. When users searched for keywords related to MBH Bank (e.g., 'MBH Bank login', 'MBH online banking'), these misleading ads were prominently displayed, even before links to the official MBH Bank website.

The GVH believes that this commercial practice likely influenced consumers to make decisions they would not have made otherwise. Google’s conduct is suspected of violating legal provisions regarding unfair commercial practices.

The initiation of the competition procedure does not imply that the company has committed a violation. The procedure aims to clarify the facts and prove the alleged infringement. The duration of the procedure is three months, which can be extended twice for up to two months each if justified. The GVH emphasizes that the time taken for the client to provide necessary information does not count towards the administrative deadline.

Hungary is among the safest countries in the world, yet online and cyber frauds pose significant risks to consumers and businesses. Domestic crime statistics show a continuous increase in the proportion of cyber frauds among crimes, making their reduction a crucial security criterion. According to the Hungarian National Bank (MNB), online frauds and phishing cyber crimes caused over 30 billion HUF in damages to the Hungarian population in 2024.