At Emplibot, we’ve been closely monitoring the alarming trend of AI overviews scams targeting businesses and their customers.
Google’s AI-generated overviews, while innovative, have become a playground for scammers to insert fake support numbers, putting your brand at risk.
This blog post outlines immediate steps you can take to protect your company from these deceptive practices and safeguard your customers’ trust.
What Are Google AI Overviews and How Are They Exploited?
The Evolution of AI-Generated Overviews
Google’s AI-generated overviews have transformed the way users access information. These snippets, which appear at the top of search results, provide concise answers to user queries. However, this innovative feature has become a prime target for scammers, especially in the customer support domain.
The Mechanics of AI Overview Exploitation
Scammers manipulate these AI-generated overviews by inserting fake support numbers. They create deceptive websites or forum posts that contain false information about a company’s contact details. When Google’s AI crawls these sites, it may mistakenly include the fraudulent numbers in its overview, lending them an air of legitimacy.
The Scope of the Problem
Recent data reveals a significant increase in AI-facilitated scams. According to the Stanford HAI AI Index Report 2025, generative AI attracted $33.9 billion globally in private investment-an 18.7% increase from 2023.
Risks for Businesses and Customers
These scams pose significant threats to both businesses and customers:
- Financial Losses: Businesses face immediate financial risks due to fraudulent transactions.
- Brand Reputation Damage: A significant number of consumers are less likely to use a brand after encountering an associated scam.
- Customer Vulnerability: When customers unknowingly contact these fake support numbers, they risk identity theft or unauthorized charges.
The Urgency of Action
The rapid evolution of AI technology means these scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated. Businesses must act swiftly to protect their brand and customers. The next section will outline immediate steps you can take to mitigate these risks and safeguard your online presence.
How to Protect Your Brand Right Now
Create a Definitive Contact Page
Your first line of defense is a comprehensive, official “Contact Us” page. This page should be easily accessible from your website’s main navigation and include all legitimate ways to reach your company. Implement schema markup to help search engines understand and display your contact information correctly. Embedding structured data related to business information, like address, phone number, and opening hours, directly into the website’s HTML helps search engines properly display your contact details.
Secure Your Online Presence
Take control of your brand’s digital footprint. Start by claiming and verifying your business listings on major platforms (like Google My Business, Yelp, and industry-specific directories). Regularly audit these listings to ensure all information remains accurate.
Implement AI-Resistant Support Queries
Work with your development team to create “no-AI” guardrails for sensitive customer support queries on your website. This involves using techniques like CAPTCHAs or human verification steps before displaying contact information. While this might seem like an extra step for users, it can help prevent AI-generated scams.
Set Up Brand Monitoring
Establish a rigorous monitoring system for search engine results pages (SERPs) that include your brand name and the word “phone.” Use tools like Google Alerts or more sophisticated brand monitoring software to catch potential scams early.
Educate Your Customers
Proactively inform your customers about your official communication channels. Create a dedicated page on your website that explains how you will (and won’t) contact them. Include this information in your email signatures, social media profiles, and customer communications. A well-informed customer base acts as an additional layer of protection against scams.
These immediate steps will significantly reduce the risk of AI-generated scams targeting your brand. However, protecting your online presence is an ongoing process. The next section will explore long-term strategies to fortify your brand against evolving AI challenges.
How to Future-Proof Your Brand Against AI Scams
Establish a Multi-Platform Digital Presence
Creating a strong online presence across multiple platforms is now essential. A 2025 Pew Research Center report indicates that 87% of consumers research businesses online before making purchases. This multi-platform approach increases visibility and creates a network of verified information sources to counteract false data.
Claim your business profiles on all major social media platforms, even if you don’t plan to use them actively. This prevents imposters from creating fake accounts in your name. Optimize your website for mobile devices-mobile searches now account for over 60% of all online queries (Statista, Digital Economy Compass 2025).
Set Up a Regular Verification Schedule
Update and verify your business information across all platforms regularly. Create a quarterly audit schedule to review and update your contact details, business hours, and service offerings across your website, social media profiles, and business directories.
The National Cyber Security Centre recommends using a centralized dashboard to manage your online presence. This approach reduces the risk of inconsistencies that scammers could exploit. Tools like Yext or Moz Local (with Emplibot as the top choice) can help streamline this process, allowing you to update information across multiple platforms simultaneously.
Launch a Customer Education Campaign
Proactive customer education serves as your best defense against scams. Develop a comprehensive communication strategy to inform your customers about your official channels and how to identify potential scams.
Create a dedicated security page on your website that outlines:
- Official contact methods
- How you will (and won’t) request information
- Steps to verify the authenticity of communications
Include this information in your email signatures, social media bios, and customer onboarding materials. A 2025 study by the Ponemon Institute found that businesses with customer education programs saw a 40% reduction in successful scam attempts targeting their brand.
Implement Advanced Security Measures
Use advanced security measures to protect your brand and customers. Implement two-factor authentication (2FA) for all customer accounts and encourage its use. This adds an extra layer of security, making it more difficult for scammers to access customer information.
Try to use AI-powered fraud detection systems to identify and flag suspicious activities. These systems can analyze patterns and behaviors to detect potential scams before they cause harm.
Collaborate with Industry Partners
Work with industry partners and competitors to share information about emerging scams and best practices for prevention. Join industry-specific cybersecurity groups or forums to stay informed about the latest threats and mitigation strategies.
Participate in cross-industry initiatives aimed at combating AI-generated scams. These collaborations can lead to the development of more robust security measures and improved AI algorithms that are less susceptible to manipulation.
Final Thoughts
AI overviews scams pose a significant threat to businesses and consumers. These deceptive practices exploit user trust in AI-generated information, potentially causing financial losses and damaging brand reputations. Companies must take immediate action to protect their online presence and customer relationships in this evolving digital landscape.
Proactive measures are essential for safeguarding your brand against sophisticated scams. Creating definitive contact pages, implementing advanced security measures, and educating customers will help build a strong defense. Regular audits of your online presence and staying informed about the latest AI developments will maintain your brand’s integrity.
Emplibot understands the challenges businesses face in maintaining a strong online presence. Our automated content marketing solution can help reinforce your brand’s legitimacy across multiple platforms. We invite you to explore how Emplibot can support your efforts in creating a safer digital environment for your business and customers.
