Google’s AI-powered search results could put users in touch with scammers.
While searching for a customer service helpline, a user clicked on a number displayed in Google’s AI Overview. The number was being run by a scammer.
The safest option is to always visit the official website of a company for customer care numbers and email addresses.
Over the past few months, scams using AI have been on the rise. Now, multiple reports are surfacing online that suggest Google’s AI-powered search results, including AI Overviews and AI Mode, could accidentally put users in touch with scammers.
SurveyRecently, Alex Rivlin, owner of a real estate firm, shared his experience on Facebook, reports Digital Trends. While searching for Royal Caribbean’s customer service number, he clicked on a number displayed in Google’s AI Overview. The number turned out to be fake and was being run by a scammer. “I’m sharing this as a public service announcement. With AI-generated results and spoofed numbers, the game has changed,” Rivlin wrote. He managed to escape before losing money, but not before sharing his credit card details.
A similar case was reported with Southwest Airlines. A number shown in Google’s AI Overview didn’t exist on the airline’s official website and was being used by scammers who tried to charge people hundreds of dollars for solving simple issues like correcting ticket details.
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On Reddit, a user shared how they almost got trapped while searching for a food delivery service helpline. In another case, a 65-year-old man lost over $3,000 after looking up “Swiggy call centre” on Google Search.
To check the issue, Digital Trends searched for “Swiggy customer care number” in Google’s AI Mode. The results showed numbers that were either not meant for customers or didn’t appear on Swiggy’s official site. In fact, Swiggy clearly states that it has no official customer care phone lines and warns users to “beware of fake numbers.”
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Google told The Washington Post that the company is working to remove unreliable entries from AI Overviews. Until then, the safest option is to always visit the official website of a company for customer care numbers and email addresses.
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Ayushi Jain
Tech news writer by day, BGMI player by night. Combining my passion for tech and gaming to bring you the latest in both worlds. View Full Profile
