Google removes 10,000 fake business listings and sues scammers for misleading users
Google is taking serious action against scammers who have been creating fake business listings on Google Maps. The company has removed 10,000 fake profiles. The tech giant is suing a man who was part of a larger scam network that set them up and sold them for profit.
As per a report by CBS News, Google took this step after a Texas locksmith reported that someone was impersonating their business on Google Maps. The scammers created fake business profiles and sold them for profit. Google’s lawsuit is targeting a man connected to a larger scam network.
Here is what the scammers do
Scammers are using fake listings to trick people in different ways. For example, a fake business might appear real on Google Maps, and when someone calls the number, they might get charged extra for a service or be sent to a call center where they’re asked to pay for something upfront without getting the service. Some scammers even use software to make fake reviews look positive or boost fake Q&A sections to make the listings appear higher in search results.
Google’s general counsel, Halimah DeLaine Prado, told the publication that the scammers are getting more clever, and once Google finds out about fraud, they work hard to find and remove other similar fake listings. In 2023, Google removed or blocked over 12 million fake business profiles. The company has also seen an increase in the number of fake listings each year.
In addition to removing fake listings, Google is cracking down on businesses that use fake reviews to improve their ratings. In the UK, Google has even put new restrictions on businesses that engage in these deceptive review practices, following pressure from regulators.
Google says they’re committed to making sure users can trust the information they see on Google Maps and will continue to fight fake business listings.
