@DanniS
My Business is Joyous Journey Celebrations. [Redacted] I have received three reviews, only one (the 5 star) is a valid client. The other two are not clients. One local guide, Garabet Gary Sahakian posted 31 photos he took on a Trailways Bus, nowhere near my location. I tried to report each photo, but after a while, Google started making me choose more and more pictures to validate that I was human. The lack of control over false information on Google is not fair to legitimate small businesses whose reputation means so much to them.
Ideally, I would appreciate the reviews from [Redacted] and [Redacted] DELETED. I would also like ALL of the pictures from [Redacted] DELETED.
I am a Wedding Officiant. If you look at the pictures you will see they have nothing to do with my business. Thank you for your time. jj
Hi @JoannieJenks ,
I would like to inform you that I’ve moved your post to the topic section How-tos because it wasn’t related to the post where it was.
Since you are a business owner, the best way you can report a Local Guide, who you think is violating our program policies, is by following these steps here. You can also reach out to the Google My Business Help for some additional inquiries.
Additionally, I’ve redacted your post, please don’t share the Google Maps profile URL of others. I’ve removed the link due to privacy concerns.
Please keep in mind that Local Guides is a program for individuals.
in addition to @FelipePK note, for everyone’s privacy, can you edit your post, removing the link to the profile, and the name, of the Local Guides?
You can easily do it by pressing the three blue doys on your post and clicking on “edit”
Good morning @AlexaAC
I have a Google Business in South Africa where I have 2 self catering accommodation units listed.
I have 2 negative reviews Google Local guides who have never stayed in either unit and who will not respond to my questions to let me know when exactly they allege to have stayed and what exactly is the reason for the negative review. I suspect that one of the guides is not a real person but a bot, as it is the only review ever posted by that person.
I have tried to “Flag as inappropriate” but there is no option to report fraudulent comments.
Can you help?
Kind regards,
Alexa Beckley
Morning @Alexa6312 ,
Welcome to Connect and thanks for reaching out to us!
As per @FelipePK 's solution, we recommend that you report these Local Guides, by flagging the inappropriate reviews, here. For further assistance, please contact Google My Business Help directly.
That said, feel free to browse 14 helpful tips for using Connect and you’re welcome to Introduce Yourself in our monthly topic.
PS: I’ve moved your post to How-tos, thanks.
Hi @AlexaAC
I am unable to find the advice in @FelipePK s posts as you directed me.
I am unable to have the comments removed by google my business as it seems as though their policies allow fraudulent reviews, even by bots, so I cannot challenge it.
I therefor turn to google local guides to take up the issue and have these fraudulent guides reported.
I have found a section in your Local Guides Program Terms and conditions https://maps.google.com/localguides/rules
which states that guides must comply with the universal terms you will not
- submit fake, falsified, misleading, or inappropriate reviews, edits or removals.
What action is taken against guides who do not adhere to those terms and submits fake/falsified/misleading reviews?
See my website for the fraudulent reviews I am referring to:
https://business.google.com/dashboard/l/05283371770751956293?hl=en
Thank you
Appropriate conduct and participation
You must comply with the Universal Terms. By way of example, and not as a limitation, you agree that when using Google’s products or services, you will not:
- defame, abuse, harass, stalk, threaten, or otherwise violate the legal rights (including the rights of privacy and publicity) of others;
- solicit, collect or require the personal information of others;
- upload, post, email, transmit, or otherwise make available any unlawful, inappropriate, defamatory, or obscene content or message;
- trespass, or in any manner attempt to gain or gain access to any property or location where you do not have a right or permission to be;
- upload, post, or otherwise make available commercial messages or advertisements, pyramid schemes, or other disruptive notices;
- impersonate another person or entity;
- promote or provide instructional information about illegal activities;
- promote physical harm or injury against any group or individual;
- transmit any viruses, worms, defects, Trojan horses, or any items of a destructive nature; or
- submit fake, falsified, misleading, or inappropriate reviews, edits or removals.
Hi @Alexa6312 ,
Please try to search on the Google My Business forum for spam and try to make a report of the fake review from there.
The Local Guide that was reported if we confirm that he/she is actually a spammer so the person will be removed from the program.
Hi @FelipePK
I have tried your advice "Please try to search on the Google My Business forum for spam and try to make a report of the fake review from there"
and found the "Business Redressal Complaint Form for fraudulent activity". https://support.google.com/business/contact/business_redressal_form
and I am only able to report fraudulent Title/Address/Phone number/Website.
There is no option to report fraudulent reviews which are in contravention of the following:
1.) Local Guides Program Terms and Conditions
2.) Google PROHIBITED AND RESTRICTED CONTENT POLICY under Spam and Fake Content “Your content should reflect your genuine experience at the location”
Please advise urgently how to have these reviews addressed.
Hi @Alexa6312 ,
If you were not able to succeed with flagging the reviews, via the Google My Business forum, please send us the business POI, so that we can have a look on our end, thanks.
Hi @AlexaAC
Thanks for your help, is this what you need?
Thank you @Alexa6312 .
We’ll further investigate and take action, if necessary.
Hello,
I’m local guide, when I make some work is because is needed. Not for points.
I would to get help to act against a local guide who never get as my customer and get me a fake review.
Searching for the reviews of this person is weird to understand how he gets diffferent parts of the map in the same day.
I’ve marked as inappropriate’ with the icon next to the contribution - is not the first time with fake reviews problem - and never get unswer of any team of google specialists-
People are die because there is wrong and bad information in google maps. And some of us, not for points or to be “local guides” only for a better world, keep tryng to make the best we can, without any answers.
Shame on you Google, the world deserves better
Cheers
Mário
Hi @mariofeijoca ,
Thanks for reaching out!
You can flag inappropriate reviews on Google My Business Help Forum. Please browse this thread for details and for further assistance, contact Google My Business Help directly.
I will merge your post with Fake reviews on Business, thanks.
Thanks for your help-
But like I’ve said in my post:
“I’ve marked as inappropriate’ with the icon next to the contribution - is not the first time with fake reviews problem - and never get unswer of any team of google specialists-” Months passed and everything is the same.
Google are joking with private work. Any clown come with fake review and employ’s of real people can be finish.
What kind of control google have it for a spammer who can be payed to get down a real business. And, when this “google specialists” comes with a solution, after months of “Due to the volume of private messages Googlers receive…”, this can means a ruin of a business.
A spammer can control undreds of emails. And there is no protection for this kind of black SEO action?
Hi @mariofeijoca ,
Thanks for clarifying!
Please send us the business POI, so that we can have a look on our end, thanks.
Hi Alex,
thanks for your assistance. What it is the business POI?
Kind Regards
Hi @mariofeijoca ,
Please provide your Google Maps business profile URL, and we will look into it for you. Thanks!
That said, as a reminder, please tag me or fellow Local Guides by adding @ before the name. This way we receive a notification.
P.S. Business POI - point of interest.
Hi @AlexaAC .
I’ve send it my Google Maps business profile URL, as you´ve requested and just like in begining of this post, the time as passed and nothing new comes.
And now again, with other of my busineses Honey Route Experience. all Reviews from really clients comes with 5 stars. Then it comes someone, who never get inside of the Honey Route, who makes several diferent geographic points in the same day, and makes a fraudulent review. I ask for reasons, like in the first story, and until now nothing…
How Google assumes this kind of situation?
I’ve to move a EU complaint against google?
Como foi lhe foi sugerido @mariofeijoca , precisamos que nos informes URL do perfil do seu comĂ©rcio no Google Maps para investigar. No entanto, esteja ciente que o programa Local Guides Ă© somente para indivĂduos e nĂŁo para companhia ou comĂ©rcios. VocĂŞ pode estar abordando esse assunto diretamente no Google My Business Help.
Nós podemos também estar investigando o Local Guide em questão caso você queira fazer uma denúncia sobre ele. =)
Olá @FelipePK
Obrigado pelo seu apoio.
Eu enviei o URL do perfil do meu comércio para as mensagens de AlexaAC, achei que não os deveria colocar aqui, mas, aqui vão:
VillaVacationPontaDelgada
HoneyRouteXp
Os LocalGuides
Obrigado