Google's AI Search Tool Becomes Target for Scammers and Misinformation

2026-02-15 data

Mountain View, Sunday, 15 February 2026.
Google’s AI Overviews are increasingly manipulated by bad actors who inject fake phone numbers and misleading information into search summaries. Scammers exploit the system by planting fraudulent contact details across low-profile websites, which AI then aggregates without verification, leading users to call fake support numbers where criminals attempt to steal money or sensitive data.

How the Scam Works

The scam operates through a sophisticated exploitation of Google’s AI aggregation process. When users search for a company’s contact number, they may receive a fraudulent phone number in the AI Overview summary [1]. The Washington Post and Digital Trends have documented instances of these scam support numbers appearing in Google AI Overviews, with additional reports surfacing on Facebook and Reddit [1]. The fake numbers are strategically planted across multiple low-profile websites alongside the names of major companies, which AI Overviews then aggregates without proper verification [1]. When users call these numbers, scammers posing as company representatives attempt to extract payment information or sensitive personal data [1].

Google’s Response and Technical Limitations

Google acknowledges the problem and is actively fighting these scammers by rolling out updates to strengthen its spam-detection systems [1]. The company states that “our anti-spam protections are highly effective at keeping scams out of AI Overviews and showing official customer support numbers where possible” [1]. However, the vulnerability extends beyond phone numbers. Malicious text can be hidden in emails and documents, which AI systems then scrape and summarize, leading to users receiving inaccurate information [1]. Currently, there is no official way to turn off AI Overviews [1][2], though users can manually use Google’s Web filter to revert to traditional search results [2].

The Expanding Commercial Impact

The scope of AI Overview manipulation has evolved significantly throughout 2025. According to research from Semrush, the types of queries triggering AI Overviews shifted dramatically from 89.03% informational queries in October 2024 to 57.16% informational in October 2025 [5]. This shift represents a move toward more commercial, bottom-funnel search intent [7]. LinkedIn analysis suggests that AI Overviews now target commercial keywords, with Google placing more advertisements on AI Overview search result pages, particularly at the bottom [7]. The flow creates a concerning pattern: AI Overview answers questions, narrows options, and then Google presents advertisements when users are ready to make purchasing decisions [7].

Global Rollout and Detection Challenges

Google’s AI Overviews have expanded rapidly across international markets. On March 26, 2025, the feature was rolled out in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, available in both German and English [4]. The system is now available in over 200 countries and territories and in more than 40 languages [5][6]. However, the global expansion has made detection of misinformation more challenging. It is difficult to tell the difference between accurate and suspect information in AI Overviews [1], and Google recommends that users double-check phone numbers by performing additional searches [1]. Research indicates that when an AI Overview is present, users click traditional search result links only 8% of the time, compared to 15% when no AI Overview appears, while users click results within the AI Overview just 1% of the time [5].

Bronnen

AI misinformation search security