Fake Customer Service Numbers in Search Results

You need help with an account, so you search for the company’s customer service number and call the first one you see. A friendly agent answers and offers to fix your problem, for a fee, or with your password, or with remote access to your computer. A fake customer service number in a search result is one of the simplest ways scammers find people who are already looking for help.

The FTC has warned about this for years. In April 2025 it said scammers sometimes use paid search results to trick people and might even put their number alongside a trusted company’s name.

How do fake customer service numbers end up in search results?

Scammers create fake contact details for popular companies and pay to have them appear in search results, the FTC says. The ad can look like it belongs to the real company. When you call, the “agent” offers to solve your problem if you pay, or if you hand over personal information, your account password or access to your computer. The FTC says they may ask you to wire money or send gift cards.

A related trick targets bills. In August 2026 the FTC warned that some companies buy search ads that make them look like the official payment channel for a business or agency, then add fees you didn’t expect. In its case against Doxo, the FTC said the company misrepresented that it was an official payment channel for companies and agencies including Labcorp, AT&T and state toll authorities. Read more in our guide to toll scam texts.

How can you tell a sponsored result from the real company?

Slow down before you click or call:

• Look for the label. Paid results are marked “Ad” or “Sponsored.” The FTC says the first results you see might be paid ads, not necessarily what you’re looking for.
• Don’t assume the phone number is real. The FTC says not to assume the phone number that comes up in search is legit, and to check the unpaid results for the correct website or contact information.
• Check the address. Make sure the web address is the company’s own, spelled exactly right. For government services, it should end in .gov. Our 10 checks to tell if a website is legit walk through the details.

Where do you find a company’s real phone number?

Use a source the scammer can’t buy:

1. Your bill, card or statement. If you’re paying a bill, the FTC says to call the number on the bill.
2. The product’s packaging or manual, which the FTC calls often a reliable source of real customer service information.
3. The company’s website, typed in yourself. If you know the web address, type it directly into your browser.
4. The back of your bank or credit card for anything to do with your accounts.

What do fake help lines and bill pay sites ask for?

The FTC says fake customer service agents may ask you to wire money, send gift cards, share your account password or give them remote access to your computer. None of those are normal. The FTC’s rule: never wire money, send gift cards or give your account password in exchange for customer service help. Hang up on anyone who asks.

If the “agent” asks to connect to your computer, the call may turn into a tech support scam or a fake antivirus renewal refund.

What should you do if you already called or paid?

• If you paid, call your bank or card company right away. Our first-hour checklist after a scam covers each payment method.
• If you shared a password, change it, along with any other account that uses the same one.
• If you gave personal information, go to IdentityTheft.gov for a free, personalized recovery plan. See also our identity theft steps.
• Report the fake listing to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. To report the website itself, see how to report a scam website.

For other ways scammers use look-alike sites and messages, see our overview of phishing scams and look-alike websites.