Beware: ChatGPT’s Recommendations Could Lead You to Scam Websites Targeting Your Credit Card Information
The chatbot is surfacing fraudulent clones of defunct retail brands, and scammers are deliberately engineering sites to game its recommendations.
Scammers have embraced a clever new method to target unsuspecting shoppers: leveraging ChatGPT for their deceptive practices. According to a report by The Guardian, Ask Silver, a scam-checking service, revealed that OpenAI’s chatbot is unintentionally recommending fraudulent retail websites designed to scrape payment information from buyers. These phony storefronts are expertly crafted to mimic authentic brands, making them alarmingly easy to overlook unless scrutinized closely.
The Target: Defunct Brands
One of the primary strategies of these scammers is to prey on brands that have either shut down or been acquired, creating a noticeable gap in available online options.
Anna Jones from Ask Silver highlighted a particular case: the British shoe retailer Russell & Bromley. After the brand went into administration in January 2026, its online presence vanished alongside it. Scammers swiftly seized this opportunity, crafting a highly convincing clone of the brand’s website. Now, when shoppers inquire about Russell & Bromley products via ChatGPT, they’re directed straight to these fraudulent sites.
The Tactic Behind the Scam
Jones speculates that scammers may have strategically polluted ChatGPT’s training data with content designed to promote these dubious pages — a technique known as data poisoning. This manipulation not only misleads the AI but also threatens the integrity of online shopping as a whole.
Pranob Mehrotra / Digital Trends
Fortunately, there are silver linings. OpenAI has started updating its feedback mechanisms for shopping inquiries related to Russell & Bromley. The chatbot now issues warnings, stating: “Several websites currently advertising Russell & Bromley products at 80% appear suspicious and may not be official retailers. Recent reports have highlighted fake Russell & Bromley stores appearing in AI-powered search results."
The Broader Implications as AI Takes Center Stage in Retail
Last year’s research pointed out that ChatGPT already struggles with delivering consistent and reliable product recommendations. However, directing users to scam sites represents an even more alarming failure. As artificial intelligence continues to integrate into our shopping experiences, this issue is poised to expand.
Louise Baxter from the UK’s National Trading Standards remarked that fraudsters are incredibly quick to adapt to new technologies. With agentic AI shopping still in its infancy, there lies a critical opportunity to tackle these vulnerabilities before they proliferate.
As you navigate the evolving landscape of online shopping, remember: always double-check the legitimacy of the websites you engage with. Your safety and satisfaction should always come first. Stay informed and be cautious; it’s the best way to protect yourself from these sophisticated scams.
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