Fake AI Customer Service
Scammers create fake customer service chatbots or phone numbers to steal credentials and financial info.
What is this scam?
Scammers create fake customer support channelsāchatbots, phone numbers, email addresses, or social media accountsāimpersonating legitimate companies. Using AI, they:
- Deploy convincing chatbots that sound like real customer service
- Answer calls with AI voice assistants that mimic company representatives
- Send automated emails that look official
- Rank fake support numbers higher than real ones in search results
The goal is to trick you into revealing account credentials, payment information, or personal details by pretending to "help" you.
šHow This Scam Works
- Fake support channel: Scammers create fraudulent customer service chatbots, phone numbers, or websites
- Search poisoning: Fake numbers appear at top of Google searches for "[company] customer service"
- Contact: Victim reaches out believing they're contacting legitimate support
- AI interaction: Automated chatbot or voice AI engages, sounding professional and helpful
- Information request: They ask for account credentials, payment info, or verification codes
- Account takeover: Using stolen credentials, scammers access accounts or make fraudulent charges
- Disappearance: Fake support channel vanishes or becomes unreachable
š©Red Flags to Watch For
- ā¢Customer service number found via Google search instead of official company website
- ā¢Chatbot immediately asks for password, credit card, or SSN
- ā¢Support agent requests remote access to your computer or phone
- ā¢Asked to provide one-time verification codes sent to your phone
- ā¢Support directs you to a third-party payment site
- ā¢Chatbot uses generic greetings and responses that don't match company tone
- ā¢Phone number has unusual format or country code
- ā¢Email domain doesn't match company's official domain
- ā¢Support asks you to install software or click suspicious links
- ā¢Pressure to act immediately ("Your account will be closed in 24 hours")
š”ļøHow to Protect Yourself
- 1Never call customer service numbers from Google search results
- 2Always go to the official company website to find support contact info
- 3Verify chatbot authenticity - look for verification badges or check company's official site
- 4Never share passwords, PINs, or verification codes with anyone, even 'support'
- 5Legitimate companies will never ask for remote access to your device
- 6Use official company apps for customer service when possible
- 7Be suspicious of support contacts found on social media
- 8Check email domains carefully (support@company.com vs support@company-help.net)
- 9If something feels off, hang up and call the number on your credit card or account statement
- 10Don't make payments via unusual methods (gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfer)
šIf You've Been Targeted
- Stop all communication with scammer
- Report to relevant authorities
- Secure your accounts (change passwords)
- Monitor for identity theft
- Warn others in your network
šReport & Get Help
Report fraud and get support through these official resources in your country:
š¬š§United Kingdom
- Action Fraud
UK fraud reporting
Learn More
Related Scam Alerts
CEO Fraud (Business Email Compromise)
Scammers impersonate executives via email requesting urgent wire transfers, often using AI to craft convincing messages.
AI Social Media Impersonation and Fake Accounts
Scammers create fake social media accounts using AI-generated photos and content to impersonate real people or create fake identities for scams.
Fake AI Tool Scams
Fraudulent AI tools that steal data, install malware, or charge for non-existent services.