AmithES's post
cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 
Level 10

URGENT : Rampant hijacking of map listings by spammers in India

I'm very well aware that there are few existing threads on similar happenings in other cities in India. Local Guides team investigated in detail and listings in the thread were fixed. Yet I see many spam listings popping up and felt it's better to go ahead with a new thread documenting the spam activity in detail.

How they operate?

The spammers hijack the genuine yet unverified map listings (malls, restaurants, hotels shops et al) by replacing the name with their business (Agarwal Packers and Movers, in this case), adding numerous keywords in the address field, claiming and verifying the listing using Google My Business, uploading unrelated photos and adding offers using the relatively new feature. 

Screenshots 

 

Screenshot_1.jpegScreenshot_2.jpeg

More Examples 

A quick search gave me many such examples in major cities in India - Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Kolkata. I'll leave the links to few listings for better understanding :

Bengaluru :

https://goo.gl/9peFxD
https://goo.gl/c5s4im
https://goo.gl/9bQiZ2
https://goo.gl/MjpeCg
https://goo.gl/yPKySN
https://goo.gl/hHUZ27
https://goo.gl/aZ9ZPw
https://goo.gl/RcQH1G
https://goo.gl/9XzniE
https://goo.gl/U2py8L
https://goo.gl/ZEsUro
https://goo.gl/BnC7Dr
https://goo.gl/T3CLD3
https://goo.gl/r5u3rV
https://goo.gl/H5G8bi 


Kolkata :

 

https://goo.gl/AUqMeG
https://goo.gl/A4BSbY
https://goo.gl/r1mCp6
https://goo.gl/PEdH9G
https://goo.gl/ESCmeR

Hyderabad :

https://goo.gl/DWPdvu
https://goo.gl/FzHAQw
https://goo.gl/BMRdYd
https://goo.gl/cYWSz8

Trivia 

The hijacking of listings is not a new innovation by the spammers and they've been doing it since years. A quick Google search will lead you to similar discussion on Map Maker Product Forums. Back in the day, we could find the spammer easily, report him and fix the listings easily. I miss those days.

Footnote

I know, I can report it on Maps app. But given that the spamming is widespread throughout the country and is increasing by the day, it's better handled collectively. My fellow Local Guides, please share the links of similar listings and chip in your thoughts.

And I request the team to investigate and fix the issue on a priority basis so that the spammers don't go about hijacking more places in future. Staying tuned for the fix once and for all. 

Thank you
Amith

6 comments
Level 7

Re: URGENT : Rampant hijacking of map listings by spammers in India

Yes Amit.

This really disgusting. Many famous malls & business centres have been renamed to one single business, mostly a packers & movers company (Agarwal movers & packers or Gati movers & packers). This trend is there in many Indian metros/cities. 

Google moderators should act quickly to fix this. 

Level 8

Re: URGENT : Rampant hijacking of map listings by spammers in India

Thank you for bringing this up. Many reputed places with good ratings have been hijacked. I think all the business owners should claim the place in Google maps using the option provided.

 

Thank you

Ravi

Level 10

Re: URGENT : Rampant hijacking of map listings by spammers in India

Oh man! yes I have heard it a lot but it seems to get worse. Hope Google will work with LGs in the areas and intervene. 

Level 6

Re: URGENT : Rampant hijacking of map listings by spammers in India

Really hope that Google will do some manual intervention in this case and weed out these spammers. 

Level 10

Re: URGENT : Rampant hijacking of map listings by spammers in India

Thanks Amith for bringing this up. I hope now there is a permanent solution by the community members regarding this issue 

Sanjay J Kamath
Level 10

Re: URGENT : Rampant hijacking of map listings by spammers in India

Quite alarming to see no inputs from Local Guides Team, to be honest. 

 

Another interesting bit : This thread about spammers ended up in quarantine (thanks to the hyperactive spam filters). LOL. Reported it twice and finally contacted a Connect Moderator (after 72 hours plus) to make the thread live. 

 

In the meanwhile, a Local Guide friend pulled some strings and got many listings in Bengaluru fixed.