Google AI Overview: To make internet search easier, Google launched the AI ​​Overviews feature in 2024.

Google AI Overview: Google launched the AI ​​Overviews feature in 2024 to simplify internet searches. The goal was to provide users with concise AI-generated answers at the top of their search results, rather than a long list of websites. While this feature is easy to read and provides quick information, its accuracy has been questioned in the past.

Convenience as well as risk

AI Overviews displays a brief summary at the top of search results. The problem is that this information is often not fully verified. The problem of AI systems providing hallucinations, i.e., false or fabricated information, has long existed.

Now, according to a new report, cybercriminals are trying to exploit this feature. Their goal is to trick people into trusting the phone numbers displayed in AI Overviews and becoming victims of fraud.

How could this new scam work?

For years, fraudsters have been attempting to enter fake customer care numbers into Google searches. When someone searches for a company's contact number, a fake number may appear instead of the real one.

This risk has increased further with the advent of AI Overviews. If a user searches for a company's helpline number, the number displayed in the AI ​​summary may not belong to the actual company but to a fraudster. Upon calling, the caller may pose as a company representative and demand bank details, OTP, or payment

The report claims that these fake numbers are being posted on smaller, less well-known websites that use the names of major companies. AI systems can extract information from these websites and create summaries that make the false numbers appear as fact.

Why does people's sensitivity increase?

Previously, when users viewed different website links, they had the opportunity to compare them. However, AI Overviews presents information as a direct conclusion. This leads many people to assume it's final and correct, increasing the risk of fraud.

What to do for protection?

The most important thing is to not blindly accept everything the AI ​​shows you. To find out the official numbers for any company, go directly to its official website or verify them with multiple sources.

The company says that additional security measures have been added to AI Overviews to detect fraud. However, users are still advised to double-check any contact number and exercise caution.