ChatGPT's search results are sending shoppers to fake Russell & Bromley and Dunelm stores

https://preview.redd.it/gsevoyuy886h1.png?width=700&format=png&auto=webp&s=27b1c0e1f063831132e8b2251a3cb93b64371b7b Fake online stores imitating Russell & Bromley and Dunelm have appeared in ChatGPT's search results. The AI-generated recommendations redirect shoppers to fraudulent websites where they lose money and banking details. Data regarding these scams is reported by Ask Silver. Their June 7, 2026 report describes how the search engine highlighted 2 fake platforms as trusted sources. Ask Silver representative Anna Jones explained that the underlying ChatGPT model might be poisoned. Four fake URLs created under the Russell & Bromley brand offered users discounts of up to 80%. Louise Baxter, a representative of the National Trading Standards, pointed out that an AI recommendation is not a guarantee of safety, as criminals adapt quickly to new technologies. The press office of Next confirmed that it is working to shut down the fake pages. A ChatGPT representative stated that the fraudulent sites have already been removed from the search index. Source: [https://www.theguardian.com/money/2026/jun/07/ai-chatgpt-shopping-scams-fake-websites](https://www.theguardian.com/money/2026/jun/07/ai-chatgpt-shopping-scams-fake-websites)