A local guide, level 8, has left a fake review on one of my client’s sites. I looked at the reviews that they have left–but it shows they’ve left one review (but that review is hidden).
It also shows that they have posted 3300 photos, but those are hidden, as well.
Is this a case that the Local Guide is posting a review but then deleting it? And posting photos and then deleting them? They’re “hidden” because they’ve been deleted?
The Local Guide is getting points (supposedly a Level 8), and has points but everything has been hidden from public view. 3300 photos are not enough to get the required Level 8.
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Looks like a similar Local Guide account, with also a Level 8, left another 1 star review on the same GMB listing. Yet that local guide has only submitted one review, along with a certain number of photos. But Local Guide profile says that they’re hiding their reviews and photos?
I thought everything on the platform was open. You can now make you profile private.
@bhartzer I can’t say for sure if this is actually the situation with that particular profile you are mentioning. But, there is a setting to hide our public profile which was available not too long ago. Ref picture below.
Also, contribution points can be earned from many different ways, ref here https://support.google.com/local-guides/answer/6225851?hl=en not limited to photos and reviews.
If you feel or suspect that this particular person has violated the terms and conditions of the Local Guides program, feel free to report the person. How to here https://www.localguidesconnect.com/t5/Help-Desk/How-Do-I-Report-Content-on-Google-Maps/m-p/202916#M96
Create a post, tag 1 or 2 Google moderators (List here), don’t mention the person publicly. One of the Google moderators will private message you for the information, and will investigate. Outcomes will not be shared by Google.
If that particular business is a claimed business in Google My Business (GMB), the business owner/manager can also report to the GMB forum for help.
Hope this helps.
