Users were alarmed last week after receiving unexpected emails from Google Pay stating they had successfully “added a new card” to their Google account.
The notification left users panicking and voicing concerns on social media, fearing they had fallen victim to a security breach.
For many, the payment card referenced had been issued years ago and was already expired, which only deepened the confusion.
Google Pay ‘new card’ added emails saw users panicking
Between Wednesday and Thursday last week, numerous Google Pay users received an email stating that a new card had been added to their Google Pay account:
Google Pay new card added email notification (BleepingComputer)
For many users, the card in question was “expired” and hadn’t been used in a long time, causing significant confusion.
Payment method in question was an old or expired card for many (BleepingComputer)
Concerned users quickly turned to social media and Google’s support forums, seeking clarification on whether they had been compromised.
Google Pay user Arran Dickson shared his experience of receiving an “odd 4am email” notification about an old expired card, asking Google if there was reason for concern.
Google Pay users left concerned after the email (X, formerly Twitter)
Others, like systems engineer Anthony Parkes, reported receiving 15 such emails, leading him to question whether he had been hacked.
The issue quickly gained traction on Google’s support forums, where threads on the topic trended with hundreds of upvotes from anxious users. Similar discussions also surfaced on Reddit [1, 2].
Google confirms no breach, email was ‘accidental’
On Saturday, Google sent a follow-up email to affected users, stating that the previous email notification was “accidental” and that there was no cause for concern:
Google acknowledges the error in a subsequent email notification (BleepingComputer)
The follow-up email from the Google Pay team stated:
“You may have received one or more emails about payment methods being added to your Google Account. If you received one of these emails, it was an error that has now been resolved. We apologize for the inconvenience. There was no unauthorized access to your Google Account, and none of your information was compromised. You do not need to take any action. You can review your payment methods at any time in your Google Account.
Thanks,
The Google Pay team.”
As a result, users who received unexpected ‘new card’ emails last week can safely disregard them.
As a best practice, it’s recommended that users regularly review their payment methods and transactions within their Google Accounts and other digital wallet services.
Source: BleepingComputer, Ax Sharma
