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Google’s AI Overviews are reshaping the way people use search. Instead of scanning a page of blue links, users are now often greeted with a neatly written summary that pulls information from across the web and presents it as a single, coherent answer.

The experience is faster and more intuitive, keeping the interaction contained within Google’s interface.

Yet that streamlined design carries new risks.

WIRED reports that scammers have found ways to slip fraudulent customer service phone numbers into the web pages that feed these AI-generated summaries.

When someone searches for a company’s contact details, the AI Overview may surface a scam number that looks legitimate because it is framed inside a polished, authoritative response. In documented cases, callers reached impostors who then attempted to collect payment information or sensitive personal data.

Why It Matters: By compressing research into one synthesized response, AI Overviews reduce the small pauses that once prompted users to compare sources. That efficiency can also reduce skepticism. When incorrect or malicious information is woven into a fluent paragraph at the top of the page, it can carry more weight than a stray listing buried in traditional results.

Real-World Examples Show The Problem Is Already Unfolding: The Washington Post and Digital Trends have identified instances of scam support numbers appearing in AI Overviews, with early reports shared on Facebook and Reddit. Banks and credit unions have issued warnings to customers, proving that the threat has moved beyond theory and into everyday use.

The Method Exploits How Generative Search Gathers And Assembles Data: Fraudsters appear to be publishing fake phone numbers on lesser-known websites alongside the names of legitimate companies. When Google’s systems crawl and synthesize that material, the fabricated details can be absorbed into the AI-generated summary. Once presented at the top of search results, the number gains credibility simply through placement and tone.

The Interface Minimizes Visible Sourcing: Traditional search results invite users to scan multiple links and decide which source to trust. AI Overviews condense that process into a single narrative answer, making it less obvious where each fact originated. Without clear attribution cues, users may assume the information has already been verified.

The Weakness Extends Beyond Google Search: Security researchers have demonstrated that malicious text can be hidden in emails and documents, later scraped and summarized by AI systems as if it were legitimate content. Similar patterns are emerging across other AI-powered search engines, suggesting the vulnerability is tied to generative summarization itself.

Safeguards Are Improving, But Caution Remains Necessary: Google says it is strengthening its anti-spam protections and refining how AI Overviews detect fraudulent information. The company also recommends performing additional searches to confirm phone numbers. Because there is currently no option to disable AI Overviews, users must scroll past them or switch search engines if they prefer traditional results. For high-stakes interactions involving financial transactions or personal data, visiting a company’s official website directly and verifying contact details independently offers a safer approach.

Go Deeper -> Google’s AI Overviews Can Scam You. Here’s How to Stay Safe – WIRED

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