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In recent months, there’s been a rise in cases where advanced AI technology has been exploited to mimic individuals’ voices and ensnare people in financial scams. Experts warn that artificial intelligence is creating new opportunities for online fraud, making it easier for scammers to deceive unsuspecting victims.
One cautionary example involves Google’s AI features and the AI Mode results, which can inadvertently lead users into dangerous situations. A real estate business owner recently shared how they stumbled upon a phone number while searching for Royal Caribbean’s customer service. Unfortunately, the number listed in Google’s AI Overviews section at the top of the search results was fake — operated by a scammer instead.
A recent report uncovered another scam involving a fake support number linked to Southwest Airlines. The number shown in the Google AI Overview does not match any official contact listed on the airline’s website. Instead, it’s a trap set by criminals trying to charge hundreds of dollars for minor issues, such as correcting misspelled names on tickets.
Why is it dangerous to rely on AI for troubleshooting numbers? On Reddit, someone recounted their experience of nearly falling victim after searching for a food delivery service’s support contact. Many have already been tricked; just recently, a 65-year-old man lost over three thousand dollars after looking up “Swiggy call center” and trusting the results provided by Google’s AI Mode.
To verify, I searched “Swiggy customer care number” using the new AI Mode in Google. The responses were troubling. Although Swiggy explicitly states on its official site that it does not provide any official customer service phone lines, Google’s AI claims that “some sources mention these numbers as Swiggy customer service contacts.” The answers included numbers that aren’t listed on Swiggy’s official directory, and one of them even appears in a complaint lodged on a non-profit site.
This creates significant confusion. One of those numbers is only used for partner onboarding, not for customer support, which was the original search intent. Additionally, the other numbers don’t match any verified contact channels, heightening the risk of falling into a scam trap.
So, how can users stay safe? The widespread issue of fake helpline numbers linked to reputable brands has existed for some time. Now, with AI tools integrated into search engines—like AI Overviews and Google’s AI Mode—the danger has intensified.
Another example involves a misrepresented support number associated with Southwest Airlines. The number in the AI results doesn’t appear on the airline’s official site and is most likely used by scammers trying to extort money by pretending to fix issues like misspelled names on tickets.
There’s also a growing trend of scammers flooding online forums and websites with counterfeit contact details of major companies, tricking users into sharing their credit card information. Security experts warn that hackers can craft commands that insert fake support numbers in AI-generated summaries, making it even harder to discern legitimate contacts from fraudulent ones.
Google reports that they are actively working to remove unreliable entries from AI Overviews, but as an average internet user, the best advice is to always verify contact information directly through official company websites. When in doubt, consult the official customer support pages rather than trusting AI-generated snippets that may be outdated or manipulated.
Overall, caution and verification are key. With AI tools enhancing search capabilities, staying vigilant is crucial to avoid falling prey to scams disguised as helpful information.
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