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1h ago

Users Say Google’s AI Overviews Surfaced Scam Phone Numbers

Google says it is addressing the issue by taking action on identified numbers.

"Google will do the Googling for you" with Google AI Overview
Google's AI Overviews have come under fire for surfacing scam support numbers.
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Overview

  • Multiple user reports say AI Overviews surfaced phone numbers for Swiggy Instamart and Royal Caribbean that connected callers to scammers.
  • In a Facebook post, traveler Alex Rivlin said an AI‑supplied Royal Caribbean number nearly led him to hand over credit‑card data before he caught the fraud.
  • Lifehacker details other instances, including a Southwest Airlines query and a report of more than $3,400 lost after calling a purported Swiggy support line.
  • A Google spokesperson, cited by the Washington Post via Android Authority, said the company is aware of the issue, has taken action against some numbers, and is working to improve results.
  • Coverage suggests scammers seed fake numbers on deceptive sites that the system can surface, and it urges users to verify contact info via official websites or the links cited in the AI Overview.