StephenAbraham's post
cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 

Report Hijack feature in Maps

In some developing countries, there have been many cases of businesses who want a fast track presence in Google Maps, and one way they do it is to rename/hijack an existing location (usually one with many very high reviews and ratings usually like tourists attractions or malls etc), and then claim the business. That means the actual location then becomes lost, and they would create a new location to replace the one they have hijacked. Have seen many cases like this. And reporting these cases sometimes it not easy.

 

Not limited to the the above. There could be many other cases of location hijacks.

1. Spammers mass renaming certain businesses or places.

2. Political hijacks where government services or offices are renamed to offending names

3. Mass category changes for certain business branches

etc

 

If anyone has any experience on this, you can share below and what process you took to help recover/reverse the hijack.

 

My suggestion is if there is somewhere in Maps that we can incorporate a report a Hijack, it would help to give an alert to Google to verify, which should be quite easy. Previous reviews are proof of a suspected hijack. And Google backend can quickly verify and revert to previous information before the change.

hijack.jpg

 

 

28 Comments
Level 10

Absolutely! In my town there was a unverified mall listing with 1000+ reviews and one of the restaurant HIJACKED the listing and converted the mall listing into his restaurant with free 1000+ reviews. This is absolutely sad! 

Sanjay J Kamath
Level 8

Hi Steve,

 

Good day to you. Last month too, I noticed some location hijack over Maps. As their is no such options available to report those, your suggestion would be a great one to control those easily.

 

Moreover it would be great if the options to report those hijackers, were only avail for some Trusted Map Contriburs rather than pushing to all. Other wise the option it will get misused again.

Level 8

Hi @StephenAbraham such a great suggestion. Thanks for writing about this .

Connect Moderator

Recently ive noticed In my state many tourist attractions places hijecked by some fake tour operators and also claimed this business.

Here is the place.

Gir National Park
https://goo.gl/maps/KctgTBLLMC12

I've suggested right info but still pending for approval. 

About me | Guiding Star 2020 | Guiding Star 2020 |  | Follow me on Instagram & Follow me on Maps |   | Happy to Help


Please use '@' before the name to tag me.



Level 10

@NareshDarji What was the method you used for reporting that hijack? I can see it's already reverted back to the original place I think.

Connect Moderator

I'm using suggest an edit option right now @StephenAbraham

If any other options please let me know. 

About me | Guiding Star 2020 | Guiding Star 2020 |  | Follow me on Instagram & Follow me on Maps |   | Happy to Help


Please use '@' before the name to tag me.



Level 10

@NareshDarji You meant you editted back to the original name? That's ok, but doesn't really highlight the issue though. 

I can't think of a existing way through the system, except manual reporting through the forum or something. 

Connect Moderator

This place is not reverted back @StephenAbraham because website and contact number is wrong. Someone has used similar website here.

About me | Guiding Star 2020 | Guiding Star 2020 |  | Follow me on Instagram & Follow me on Maps |   | Happy to Help


Please use '@' before the name to tag me.



Great Idea @StephenAbraham brother and we see that kind of listing 

| Volunteers don’t get paid, not because they’re worthless, but because they’re priceless





Level 9
Great suggestion. I also faced similar problem.
Local Hero: Mapping Calcutta’s Hospitals | Instagram | Facebook| Twitter | YouTube | LGSummit16, LGSummit17, SVT18 alumnus