From Peec · · 1m 50s
Publish stats, get cited: The tactic that put my data all over the web
Fake stats site gets cited by ChatGPT and banks after 7 months.
In brief
Fake stats site gets cited by ChatGPT and banks after 7 months. A website with 50,000 fake statistics was cited by ChatGPT and banks after 7 months, showing how AI tools use data even when it's made up. Originally reported by Peec.
The fake stats experiment
Metehan Yesilyurt launched a website with 50,000 fake statistics in one day using GPT-4.1.
Google buried the site
Google dropped the site after two updates, but it stayed visible in ChatGPT searches for over 7 months.
ChatGPT keeps citing it
ChatGPT has sent over 10,000 sessions to the site since launch, with 72,000 requests from ChatGPT-User.
330+ referring domains
The site now has links from 330+ domains including Shopify, Bluehost, and DHL.
Academic paper citation
The fake data ended up in an academic paper and a bank's investment research report.
Why LLMs cite stats
LLMs look for specific numbers when writing content, as they fill knowledge gaps with quick, verifiable data.
The uncomfortable implication
Fake data gains credibility through citations, potentially becoming trusted by future models.
Real data test
Peec AI tested real statistics pages and saw similar results, with sites linking to them.
How to build stats pages
Make one claim per sentence, add sources and years, match headings to LLM queries, and update regularly.
Tracking AI usage
Track AI bot activity in server logs, GA4 sessions from chatgpt.com, and new referring domains.
Ethical considerations
The experiment shows fake data can become trusted, but Peec AI emphasizes verifying sources for accuracy.
What's next
Peec AI is running close to 40 similar experiments to build a long-term strategy for brands.
The consequence
The tactic works for trusted brands but should not be the basis for an entire GEO strategy.
The key point
A website with 50,000 fake statistics was cited by ChatGPT and banks after 7 months, showing how AI tools use data even when it's made up.
