---
title: "AI chatbots are recommending fake retail websites, study finds"
slug: "ai-chatbots-verweisen-beim-einkauf-auf-gefaelschte-haendlerseiten"
date: 2026-11-12
category: tech-pub
tags: []
language: en
sources_count: 1
featured: false
publisher: AInauten News
url: https://news.ainauten.com/en/story/ai-chatbots-verweisen-beim-einkauf-auf-gefaelschte-haendlerseiten
---

# AI chatbots are recommending fake retail websites, study finds

**Published**: 2026-11-12 | **Category**: tech-pub | **Sources**: 1

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## TL;DR

Shoppers using AI chatbots to research products or find places to buy items could be directed to imposters and other risky websites, a new study found.

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## Summary

Shoppers using AI chatbots to research products or find places to buy items could be directed to imposters and other risky websites, a new study found. The study conducted by IP protection firm Podqi and shared exclusively with The Verge prompted ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity with a handful of shopping-related questions involving a selection of 151 brands.

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## Why it matters

Shoppers using AI chatbots to research products or find places to buy items could be directed to imposters and other risky websites, a new study found.

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## Key Points

- Shoppers using AI chatbots to research products or find places to buy items could be directed to imposters and other risky websites, a new study found.
- The study conducted by IP protection firm Podqi and shared exclusively with The Verge prompted ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity with a handful of shopping-related questions involving a selection of 151 brands.

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## Nauti's Take

Treat ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity as unverified tipsters when researching where to buy. Open suggested retailer sites only after checking the domain, legal notice, and brand-owned channels, then build that check into recurring procurement workflows. The evidence currently comes from one study, so teams should test how often this happens for their own brands, regions, and product categories.

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## FAQ

**Q:** What is AI chatbots are recommending fake retail websites, study finds about?

**A:** Shoppers using AI chatbots to research products or find places to buy items could be directed to imposters and other risky websites, a new study found.

**Q:** Why does it matter?

**A:** Shoppers using AI chatbots to research products or find places to buy items could be directed to imposters and other risky websites, a new study found.

**Q:** What are the key takeaways?

**A:** Shoppers using AI chatbots to research products or find places to buy items could be directed to imposters and other risky websites, a new study found.. The study conducted by IP protection firm Podqi and shared exclusively with The Verge prompted ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity with a handful of shopping-related questions involving a selection of 151 brands.

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## Related Topics

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## Sources

- [AI chatbots are recommending fake retail websites, study finds](https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/1032020/gemini-chatgpt-perplexity-shopping-test-risky-fake-websites-citations) - The Verge AI

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## About This Article

This article is a synthesis of 1 sources, curated and summarized by AInauten News. We aggregate AI news from trusted sources and provide bilingual (German/English) coverage.

**Publisher**: [AInauten](https://www.ainauten.com) | **Site**: [news.ainauten.com](https://news.ainauten.com)

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*Last Updated: 2026-11-13*