Google AI Overviews and ChatGPT displayed fraudulent cruise hotline, enabling scam
Google's AI Overviews and ChatGPT reportedly displayed fraudulent phone numbers impersonating cruise company hotlines, which scammers had posted on review sites and message boards. A Las Vegas businessman used one such number from Google's AI results and lost $768 in a scam, before his credit card company reversed the charges.
What happened
Alex Rivlin, a Las Vegas real estate company owner, searched Google for a Royal Caribbean cruise customer service number while booking a shuttle to catch a cruise ship. He called a number displayed in Google's AI Overviews and spoke with a representative who appeared knowledgeable about shuttle costs and pickup locations in Venice.
Rivlin provided his credit card and agreed to pay $768 after the representative offered to waive shuttle fees. The next day he discovered fraudulent charges on his credit card from an unfamiliar company name and realized he had been scammed. The same fraudulent number reportedly appeared impersonating other cruise company hotlines and was displayed in both Google and ChatGPT.
Reported impact
Rivlin was charged $768 in fraudulent fees to his credit card. He cancelled his credit card and the charges were reversed.
Index analysis
Scammers posted false information claiming phone numbers under their control belonged to company customer service centers on online review sites, message boards and other websites. When users searched Google for customer help lines, the fraudulent numbers appeared in AI-generated search results.
Classification
Sources and evidence
Sources not yet published
This record was researched and written by the Index from original reporting. Its sources are still being verified by an editor, and they are listed here once that check is complete. Until then the record carries no reviewer.