UPDATE: As of June 11, 2020, we now have a new process in place for reporting abusive activity on Google Maps. You can report entire profiles on Google Maps from your mobile device. Read this post to learn more.
Have you ever come across a place on Google Maps that doesn’t really exist? How about a place with incorrect details that look suspicious? These edits violate the Google My Business guidelines and Local Guides guidelines, and they’re considered fraud.
People post fraud on Google Maps for the sake of profit-generating scams, which hurt legitimate businesses and make Maps less useful for everyone. You can help fight spam by reporting violations.
.:: How do I identify fraud on Google Maps? Look for the following.
- Businesses that list a P.O. Box, post office or virtual office as an address. A business needs to have a real-world address to be listed on Google Maps. Virtual offices and shared workspaces are acceptable if they’re staffed during typical business hours, but be aware that using these types of places as addresses is a popular fraud technique. P.O. Boxes are OK in countries where they are essential, such as Kenya and the U.A.E.
- Online-only businesses. Online businesses that don’t meet customers face-to-face are not eligible to be on Maps.
- Businesses that don’t exist. If a business is on Maps but is not real, it should be reported.
- Businesses that use employees’ addresses. The scam here is to make it appear that the business has locations in places where it doesn’t actually operate. If you see a business that seems to be in a purely residential area, this might be the reason.
- Keyword “stuffing.” If you see search terms “stuffed” into place names or address fields, that’s a sign of a fraudulent listing.
- Fake websites or phone numbers. For example, a fraudulent hotel listing might include a hotel booking site instead of a site for an individual business. If a business’s site seems broken or distributes malware, that’s a sign of a fraudulent listing.
- Business impersonators: Some people create fake listings for real businesses, such as national chains. If you think a listing might be fraudulent, check the brand’s official site to see its legitimate locations.
- Reviews that point out abuse. Sometimes, people will notice a fraudulent listing and note it in a review.
- Profanity. Sometimes, people will deface legitimate listings with edits that include foul language.
- Illegal businesses: If a business is illegal where it operates, it can’t be on Google Maps.
.::How do I report fraud on Google Maps?
- Find the business on Google Maps
- Scroll down and select Suggest an edit
- Tap Place is permanently closed or has never existed
- Select Spam, fake or offensive as the reason
- Tap Submit
.::Reporting a Local Guide
If you’ve found a Local Guide contributing content or behaving in a way that seems to violate our policies or Local Guides program rules, you now have the ability to report these profiles directly in the Google Maps app. In order to do so, click on the user name in the list of Reviews/Photos they contributed or the Question/Answer they posted to get to their profile page. Once on their profile page, click on the three dot icon. Choose ‘Report’ from the menu on iOS or ‘Report profile’ on Android. For additional information, read this post.
.::Reporting spammed, fake, or duplicate prominent locations to Google Moderators
There are certain prominent places which Local Guides can’t edit in Google Maps, such as cities, towns, rivers, natural formations, and more. If you come across a spammed, fake or duplicate location for which you cannot submit an edit or your edit is automatically rejected, let us know in a comment below. Make sure to tag a Google Moderator and provide the following details:
- Google Maps URL of the location (Eg: https://goo.gl/maps/qAZfCWDfZzoqchHL9);
- What’s wrong with the place? Is it spammed, fake, or duplicate?
- Which is the wrong information? Is it the name, category, or contact information?
- What should the correct information be? Tell us the original name of the place in English and in the local language (if applicable), the right category (Zoo, Museum, etc.), and the correct contact information (official website, address, phone number, etc.).
