Criminals are using AI-generated fake customer service numbers to scam people, Virgin Media O2 has warned.
Those searching online for a company’s contact details can sometimes be shown fake phone numbers, websites and search results. These are created by criminals using AI-powered tools to steal personal data and commit fraud.
Virgin Media O2 has warned that this sophisticated fraud is on the rise and is urging consumers to be on their guard.
According to the firm, around one in eight (13%) say they have already been shown a fake customer service number via search engines or AI tools, while a further one in five (22%) admit they are unsure if numbers they have found online are genuine.
The issue is compounded by a lack of scrutiny of search results, with more than one in 10 consumers (13%) assuming the top result is genuine. Even when they suspect a number may have been generated by AI, around 10% say they still trust it, while 15% admit they never check whether a number is legitimate.
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