Wait, That Google Ads Email is Legit?! Understanding Google's "Extended Workforce" @xwf.google.com

By: Jyll Saskin Gales, Google Ads Coach and Ex-Googler

Have you ever received an email from someone claiming to be from Google, offering to help with your Google Ads account, and you're not sure if they really work at Google or not? There are a lot of scams out there - but if their email address ends in "@xwf.google.com," it's completely legitimate! Let me explain.

Email addresses from @xwf.google.com are legitimate

Google recently changed how they handle email addresses for their employees. In the past, everyone working at Google, whether a full-time employee or a temporary contractor, had an "@google.com" email address. This made it difficult to tell who was actually a Google employee and who wasn't.

Now, Google uses "@xwf.google.com" for their extended workforce. XWF = eXtended WorkForce. This includes contractors, temporary workers, and anyone else working on behalf of Google, but not directly employed by them. Think of it as a way to clearly distinguish between full-time Googlers and those who are working with Google in a different capacity.

Does it matter if your Google rep is an employee or contractor?

As a business owner or marketer using Google Ads, you might be contacted by someone from Google's extended workforce. They might be an account specialist, a Google Ads specialist, or an account manager. Knowing this change in email addresses helps you:

• Verify their identity: If the email ends in "@xwf.google.com" or "@google.com," it's a legitimate representative of Google.
• Avoid scams: Be wary of anyone claiming to be from Google but using a different email domain.
• Understand their role: Knowing they are part of the extended workforce gives you context about their position and level of authority within Google.
  
  

Should You Engage with Google's Extended Workforce?

Just because someone is from Google doesn't automatically mean you should jump on a call or follow their advice blindly. People with different roles and teams have different experience levels, and potential to help.

For more on this topic, check out my in-depth article "Google Ads Sales Teams Explained by an ex-Googler."

Are there any other email addresses that are NOT legit? Yes!

Unfortunately, Google Ads scams are becoming more common. Bad actors will email you, impersonating a Google employee or contractor, to try to gain access to your Google account. If you fall for these scams, they can get access not just to your Google Ads account, but to your Google payments profile - and rack up thousands of dollars in fraudulent charges!

Here is an example of what a scam email may look like. Again, THIS IS NOT LEGITIMATE and this person is NOT a representative of Google:

How do we know this is not legit?

1. Email domain "@supportteam-google.com" is not legitimate. The only legitimate domains for Google representations are "@google.com" and "@xwf.google.com." Notice that in both of these domains, there is a "." before and after the Google part, which means they are hosted on the official google.com domain. However, the scam artist used supportteam-google.com, which is NOT hosted on the official google.com domain
2. Recommendation is not something Google would ever recommend. "A significant amount of invalid traffic and clicks"? I wish Google reps would email you about that! But they do not. An initial email like this would be more vague, mentioning opportunities to "grow" or "optimize your campaigns," etc.
3. "Schedule a meeting" button doesn't look right. Legitimate buttons will lead to Google Calendar, and they will be square buttons in the signature Google blue (#4285f4, if you're curious), with standard Google fonts. This button is too round, the wrong colour, and has the wrong font 

If you're ever in doubt about whether an email is really from Google, do not click anything and simply ignore the email.

Need More Help with Google Ads?

If you liked this post you may be interested in:

• Inside Google Ads course: my signature Google Ads training program. Learn Google Ads with an ex-Googler! With more than 100 in-platform tutorials and exclusive access to a live meeting with me every month, Inside Google Ads is what you need to get an edge in your Google Ads account

• Google Ads for Beginners course: learn everything you need to know to get started with Google Ads, explained by an ex-Googler in clear and simple language
• Google Ads coaching: book a call with me! I coach business owners, agencies and marketers who want to understand the mechanics of how Google Ads works, and how to drive the best results in your account.
• Inside Google Ads podcast: Your burning questions answered by a trusted Google Ads Expert. Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify Podcasts, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, or wherever you follow podcasts