Overview

• Multiple outlets document cases of AI Overviews and AI Mode showing customer-support numbers that connected callers to fraudsters.
• In one widely shared case, Alex Rivlin sought Royal Caribbean help and nearly lost money after calling the AI-listed number before spotting bogus charges.
• Another report says a Swiggy customer lost more than $3,400 after dialing a number surfaced by Google, even though the service offers chat support only.
• Investigations indicate scammers plant the same fake numbers across look-alike websites and forums, which Google’s systems treat as credible signals.
• Google told the Washington Post it is aware and has acted on flagged numbers while working on improvements, and security experts urge users to verify contact details on official sites.