Fake support numbers in search and AI answers

You search for an airline’s or a brand’s support number, and the top answer gives one. It was planted, and the “agent” takes a fee and your card.

What it looks like

AI search answer · “airline customer service”

Need to rebook a cancelled flight? Call 24/7 support: +1 (877) 555-0193.

How it usually ends

The number had been seeded on spam pages and picked up by search results and AI summaries. The victim called them — so it didn’t feel like a scam.

Red flags

The number isn’t on the brand’s official site or app
It appears only on recently created pages
The “agent” wants a fee by card over the phone

What to do

Take support numbers only from the brand’s own app, site or your booking confirmation.
Be careful with numbers in AI summaries and sponsored results.
Never pay a “rebooking fee” by card over the phone.

Could you spot it in the moment?

In Painted Sky you’re born at random somewhere on Earth and live a whole life — and this scam is one of the fakes that can find you. Make the call yourself, then replay the same life with a lens that shows what was fake.

Play Painted Sky — free →