Spammy Name Reporting - Pending Review for Months

[VinayakGarg]

Hi, 

I have seen this trend that somehow all the Spam business names that I report and edit never get approved on Google Maps. Some of them have been pending for over a year and latest ones pending since past few months. 

Some examples of clearly spammy names: 

<REDACTED>

These are just a few of the so many names that I have tried to clean but are in Pending status. 

[Pea]

Your problem is that these businesses are Claimed and Google has decided to turn a blind eye to spammy GMB listings because they hope to generate AdWords revenue from the owners. 

[VinayakGarg]

@Pea I understand what you are saying, and it never struck me. Though I really hope this is not the case - they are clearly trying to game the system. 

I hope one of the Google moderators has a look at this, and maybe they could help with this. 

[Csaba]

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@Peawrote:

Your problem is that these businesses are Claimed and Google has decided to turn a blind eye to spammy GMB listings because they hope to generate AdWords revenue from the owners. 

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True that making edits for claimed (and verified) businesses is harder (and maybe Google's motives are indeed to favour such businesses) but I successfully changed spammy names in the past. Also true however that some such edits are still pending (for weeks or months).

[indrajiths]

Two of the links are not working and the one link that work shows its reported as permanently closed. The spammy name reported will not get accepted since the business is reported as permanently closed.

[Pea]

Yes, I should have been clearer: It is by no means impossible to edit a Claimed business, but it is more likely to generate a Not Applied. Also if it is a chain store there is a further problem, although your edit may be approved and go live, there is a possibility it will be reversed in days or even hours, if the business runs a bulk upload script to update all their listings in one go.

[Pea]

@indrajiths you make a valid comment about the Permanently Closed business but I think VinayakG was making a bigger point about spammy names in general

Here are his links again

https://goo.gl/maps/CTPy4EzCe8r
https://goo.gl/maps/tqXU3gArZf22

https://goo.gl/maps/t99DU1TYtaQ2

If you want to see another spammy name try and edit this one https://goo.gl/maps/cEJgNkT88Qy and see how far you get

[VinayakGarg]

@Pea @indrajiths @Csaba

Thank you everyone for contributing. 

Yes my point is why should such obviously spammy names not be detected and corrected by Google. Even if not automatically, when local guides are pointing it out, it should be possible to correct these business names.

In the longer run, I don't think it is in Google's interest either to let spammy names prevail. Business who tend to use keyword stuffing are those who are not building a brand name for themselves, and thus they mostly misrepresent themselves on what services they offer, and also there quality is generally low.

@Pea I tried to correct the local business link you shared - instant reject!! 😄  

[VinayakGarg]

@TraciC Could you check this? Why is it that such spammy names do not get removed despite reporting. 

[TraciC · Accepted solution]

@VinayakGarg I have removed the links you have shared because we respect everyone's privacy. Please note that our policy on investigating suspicious Local Guides' accounts is as follows:

If you find a review or photo that you think violates Google Maps' policies, you can use the 'flag as inappropriate' icon next to the contribution. A team of specialists will then check if it violates any of the policies and will take appropriate action. The review sometimes takes time as the team is careful to only remove content that violate policy.

If you've found a specific Local Guide with activity you think violates Google Maps' policies or the Local Guides program rules, let us know here in Connect (but don't share that person's information publicly) by tagging a Google Moderator and we'll reach out to you via private message with instructions on how to share that information with the Local Guides team to share with the specialists for review. Please note that we'll never be able to share the specialists' decision as we respect everyone's privacy.

The same applies for inquiries regarding map edits. I'll send you a private message with further instruction.