09/29/2026
I received an email from Smoky Hill Finacial and feel it is important to share. We have many customers a week that come in and have been scammed, let someone on their computer, called a scam number, etc. So please read through this information, share with your friends and family, bookmark this post, and know how to spot a scam. Although this show tech scam number of $159 million in the US, the worldwide number for scams in general is over $12.5 billion. If you do not have time to read the whole post, scroll down to the bottom for the helpful tips as well as how to report scams to the FCC, police, and FBI.
Of course, you can ALWAYS give JAB IT a call or stop by our office as well (785-367-2500)
"Is That the Real Customer Support Number?"
How Scammers Make a Bogus Toll-Free Number Appear in Search Results.
Picture this: You’re in a hurry, preparing for a vacation or business trip. It’s the day before you leave, and you need to place an urgent call to one of the companies handling your travel, let’s say a cruise ship line. You type the name of the company into your favorite search engine, along with the phrase “Customer Support Phone Number.” The first result has exactly what you want: a toll-free number!
After the usual menus, messages, and music, you reach that most desired outcome: a real human being. You tell the customer service representative that you forgot to book a shuttle from your destination airport to your cruise ship. The rep is friendly and helpful and answers every question clearly and professionally. A shuttle ride can be purchased for a small fee, they say. Hearing that, you gladly hand over your credit card number.
You can probably guess what happens next. No shuttle, unauthorized charges to your card, and a major-league headache. You’re left to wonder, "How did calling that phone number lead me straight into the clutches of a con artist?”
Something very similar happened to Alex Rivlin, a Las Vegas resident who described his experience to the Washington Post. “I’m pretty technologically advanced, and I fell for this,” said Rivlin. The Post investigated how the scammer boosted a fake phone number to the top of Rivlin’s search results.1
In this case, an unwitting collaborator was artificial intelligence (AI). Since many search results are now enhanced with AI, it’s possible for scammers to work the system to their advantage. These AI-generated search results are summaries compiled from many sources, someone looking to exploit the unaware can skew them by posting replies on review pages, message boards, and other websites, claiming that their bogus toll-free number is the correct one.1
The Impact of Customer Service Scams
Across North America, tech support and service scams appear to be a lucrative source of criminal income. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission recorded $159 million (USD) in losses from tech support scams in 2024. Meanwhile, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) received over 5,000 reports of service scams in 2024. The CAFC also estimates that only 5 to 10 percent of all crimes are reported, suggesting that actual consumer losses may be much higher.
While AI tools like search result summaries and chatbots are convenient and relay information with authority, they’re far from perfect. Unfortunately, AI can perpetuate misleading or, in this case, harmful information.
As technology becomes more sophisticated, so do the scams. Consumers must remain vigilant. Here are some tips that can help.
• When searching online for customer service, the first results may be AI summaries or advertisements for related services; scroll down and look for results from the company’s actual website.
• If you are going on a trip or making a major purchase, make a point of finding and noting the correct customer support number, and keep it handy.
• Bear in mind that there are also customer support scams that mimic chat. Be sure you are using the chat link on the company’s website.
• Spam email is still a thing! Never respond to a suspicious email.
• If you do believe you have been scammed, contact the financial institution involved and report any bogus charges immediately.
• You may also want to report these to the local government entities tasked with combating fraud.
1. The Washington Post, August 15, 2025
2. FTC.gov, December 1, 2025
3. Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, February 2025
Here are the three emails you can forward any phishing/scam emails to.
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
How to File a Complaint with the FCC:
• Online: Go to fcc.gov/complaints to choose your issue category and submit a form.
• Phone: Call 1-888-CALL-FCC
How to File a Complaint with the local (Salina) Police:
Call 785-826-7210 or go in person
How to file a complaint with the IRS:
https://www.tigta.gov/reportcrime-misconduct
How to file a complaint with the FTC:
report a scam online at the ReportFraud.ftc.gov portal or by calling the FTC at 1-877-382-4357
