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Near missAIA-2026-0014Scams and fraudUnder review

ChatGPT search results directed New Zealanders to scam and malicious sites

ESET research reported in mid-September found that ChatGPT’s search feature repeatedly steered New Zealand users towards scam, phishing and malware-hosting websites. ESET’s Scott Leman said “lots of people are going and trusting it”.

Not yet rated
Outcome
Near miss: harm was likely but was caught or avoided in time
Date it happened
14 September 2026
Added to the register
14 September 2026
Region
Online or nationwide
Type of AI involved
AI search (chatbot)
Kind of harm
Scam exposure
Last updated
29 October 2026

What happened

ESET research reported in mid-September found that ChatGPT's search feature repeatedly steered New Zealand users towards scam, phishing and malware-hosting websites. ESET's Scott Leman said "lots of people are going and trusting it".

Sources

  1. ChatGPT directing users to unsafe websites
    RNZ Nine to Noon, 13 September 2026

Change history

  • 29 Oct 2026 Moved from the AI Safety Aotearoa incident tracker.

Cite this entry

AI Incidents Aotearoa. (2026). ChatGPT search results directed New Zealanders to scam and malicious sites (AIA-2026-0014). AI Safety Aotearoa. Retrieved 29 October 2026, from https://aiincidents.nz/register/chatgpt-search-results-directed-new-zealanders-to-scam-and-malicious-sites/

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