Fake Stores

A Reader Lost $150 to a Fake Store Recommended by ChatGPT – Here’s How Scammers Do It If you’ve used ChatGPT to help find a product or compare prices, you’re not alone. Millions of people now treat AI assistants like shopping advisors. But a recent incident reported by Tom’s Guide shows that trusting those recommendations without caution can cost real money. In June 2026, a reader recounted losing $150 after following a link provided by ChatGPT to what appeared to be a legitimate online store. The store was fake, and the money was gone. ...

I Lost $150 to a Fake Store Recommended by ChatGPT — Here’s How to Avoid the Same Scam Like many people, I’ve been experimenting with using ChatGPT for shopping research. It’s fast, convenient, and seems to cut through the noise. Two weeks ago I asked it to find a good deal on a popular wireless speaker. Within seconds it returned a link to an online store I’d never heard of, priced $150 below what I’d seen elsewhere. The description looked professional, and the site had what appeared to be dozens of five-star reviews. I made the purchase. ...