How to spot an AI-SEO scam

Lots of local businesses now get emails saying "ChatGPT recommends your competitor, not you." Some are honest. Some aren't. One widely shared plumber email was publicly retested, and the plumber was actually named first. Here's a checklist you can use on anyone, including us.

1. Do they show the exact questions they asked? Word for word, with the date. If not, you can't check it.
2. Did they run each question more than once? AI answers change from run to run. A single screenshot proves very little; ask for counts across repeated runs.
3. Can you repeat it yourself? Paste the same question into ChatGPT. If they won't tell you the question, walk away.
4. Do they promise #1, or a guaranteed spot? Nobody controls what an AI says. A promise of a ranking is a red flag.
5. Do they sell "placement" or "paid mentions" in ChatGPT? That doesn't exist. Google's 2026 spam policy treats trying to manipulate AI answers as a violation.
6. Do they quote how many dollars you're "losing"? Without your own numbers, that figure is made up.
7. Is there a countdown or "2 spots left"? Fake urgency is a pressure tactic, not a reason to buy.
8. Is the price published, and is there a refund rule you can understand?

Our free scorecard shows every prompt, every run, every answer and its date. See a sample and check it against this list.