В Миссури компания-покрытитель кровли обнаружила, что её сайт и отзывы клиентов скопированы с помощью искусственного интеллекта

AI used to clone St. Louis County roofing company’s website Cybersecurity expert says website cloning is a growing problem KIRKWOOD, Mo. (First Alert 4) - A Kirkwood roofing company says someone used AI to clone its website and used the company’s credentials to seek business. Josh and Amy Vandevender, of St. Louis Roofing & Siding, provided a cell phone video of a man who identified himself as Claudio from a business using their company’s information on a website. “I feel like something was stolen from me,” Josh Vandevender said. The Vandevenders discovered the site ExteriorSTL.com when they asked ChatGPT for ideas to build a new website for their 20-year-old business. “Believe it or not, ChatGPT found this other website, and it said they were using your testimonials,” Amy Vandevender said. Similarities between the two sites Amy Vandevender pointed to similarities in layout and wording between the website they were creating for their business and ExteriorSTL.com, which went live in July. “We advertise A+ rating with the BBB, 20 years of experience, and number of projects done. And the drone inspections, Owens Corning preferred,” Amy Vandevender said. “The fictitious site almost says that exactly: drone roof inspections, fully licensed, Owens Corning preferred.” Amy Vandevender told First Alert 4 that their customer testimonials — from clients named Robert, Janet and Jim — were the same on both sites. “There’s our clients on their website,” she said. The address listed for Exterior STL, 123 Main Street in St. Louis, does not exist. Exterior STL is not listed with the Better Business Bureau or the Missouri Secretary of State’s Office. Cybersecurity expert weighs in Michael Sweeney, director of cyber defense at Silent Push, reviewed both websites. “There are a lot of AI cloning sites to pull information, then reproduce the site,” Sweeney said. Sweeney told First Alert 4 that the Exterior STL site was set up to collect leads from people needing roofing. “It seemed to be that the infrastructure was feeding back into their local database and was essentially collecting that information,” Sweeney said. Confronting the site’s operator The Vandevenders asked a neighbor to set up a roof inspection with ExteriorSTL. During the inspection, the man who identified himself as Claudio said he was not a roofer. “I’m not a roofer, I just change, I do the inspection. We go through the process, if you want it, great, if you don’t want it, fine,” Claudio said. Josh Vandevender then questioned Claudio about the website. “On the website, it says you’re an Owens Corning Preferred Contractor,” Josh Vandevender said. “Does it?” Claudio said. “Yes,” Josh Vandevender said. “I contacted Owens Corning, the local rep, she says she’s never heard of your company.” “If you can send me all the notes that is wrong on the website, I’ll go ahead and ask them to change,” Claudio said. Consumer reporter Heather Sullivan called Gabe Waterhouse at the phone number listed on the website. Waterhouse said Claudio created the site using AI. Waterhouse declined to be recorded. “We wanted to ask have you been lifting information off their website to establish your website,” Sullivan said. Waterhouse told Sullivan they didn’t intend to take anything away from another business, hadn’t had any paying customers, and now planned to shut down the business. Amy Vandevender filed a complaint with the website’s host, Netlify, which took the site down. How to protect a business website Attorneys say information published on a website has automatic copyright protection. Companies can hire cybersecurity experts to alert them if their information is used on another site. Consumers should also check a business with the BBB before using its website. Copyright 2026 KMOV. All rights reserved.