Google’s AI overviews can send you straight to scammers. Here's how to stay safe

Google's AI-driven overview feature has evolved significantly since its inception, which initially prompted users with bizarre suggestions like eating rocks or putting glue on pizza. Today, it has become an essential part of Google Search. Despite its advancements, a recent investigation by Digital Trends has raised alarming concerns about the reliability of this feature. Many users have reported that when they sought official customer service numbers, they were misled to contact scammers instead. Alex Rivlin, a business owner, shared a cautionary tale on Facebook about his harrowing experience. He had been searching for the customer care number for Royal Caribbean when he ended up dialing a fraudulent number. Though he managed to avert a larger disaster at the last moment, he had already provided his credit card information to the scammer. Rivlin, who prides himself on his cautious approach to online interactions, expressed his disbelief at falling victim to such a sophisticated scheme. "I don’t click links, I don’t give personal info over the phone, and I always verify. But I still got caught in a very sophisticated scam," he lamented. This issue appears to be widespread. Another Reddit user, operating under the name Stimy3901, recounted a similar experience while trying to correct a misspelled name on Southwest Airlines. Instead of receiving legitimate assistance, they were provided with a fraudulent number that led to scammers demanding hundreds of dollars for name changes. Additionally, user ScotiaMinotia reported being directed to a scam number while searching for British Airways' customer service, although they noted that the AI-generated overview had been corrected since then. These incidents serve as a stark reminder of the potential pitfalls associated with relying on AI-generated information. As the technology continues to evolve, users must remain vigilant to protect themselves from scams that exploit these emerging tools.