Learn how scammers use Google's AI overviews to spread fake phone numbers, posing as companies to steal data. Stay safe by verifying official sources.
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Google's "AI Overviews" feature, designed to provide quick summary answers to search queries, has become a target for scammers. According to Western media reports, malicious actors have started using AI algorithms to spread fake contact information, including fraudulent phone numbers for well-known companies.
The scheme works simply: scammers post fake numbers on obscure websites, linking them to popular brand names. When Google's system automatically gathers and summarizes information to create an "authoritative" answer, this data can end up in an AI overview. A user searching for an official customer service number sees it right in the summary and, without double-checking, makes the call. On the other end of the line is someone posing as a company representative, trying to obtain payment or personal details.
The danger is amplified by how the information is presented. Unlike traditional search results, which offer several links for comparison, the AI overview provides a "ready-made" answer, creating a sense of reliability. This reduces critical thinking and increases the risk of trusting inaccurate information.
Google states it is strengthening spam filtering and improving fraud detection mechanisms. However, cybersecurity experts emphasize that AI summaries should not be taken as definitive truth, especially when it comes to phone numbers, payment information, or account access. The safest way to contact a company is to go directly to its official website and verify contact details manually.