Dealing with fake photos

[EkendraL]

I have recently come across many places listing where users are uploading irrelevant business logo, brochure images and promotional materials of other businesses. One guy was uploading his own website logo in every media house listing while others were uploading pics showing offer from their own businesses.

The original location (business) listing is likely to suffer from their competitor's such act. Even though I have reported those spammy and fake photos of locations, some people tend to do so. And another common practice besides images is the phone number listing, we can see same phone number in hundreds of locations/point of interest or business listing - Maps must be intelligent enough to find that same number (including area & country code) doesn't exist at multiple locations - so why not take action?

Reporting a listing in Google Maps

I agree that hundreds of Local Guides like us are sanitizing many listing in the map, but still these group of people keep polluting. 

Is it not possible for the Maps team to terminate or disable such accounts? If there are other ways of dealing with such issues, please do share.

(PS: I'm a Local Guide from Pokhara, Nepal and issues I mention above are seen in here.) 

[Amiran]

Hi @EkendraL, This is great to hear your concern about being accurate info and photos on the map. This problem is global and I think Google is also aware of that and in future will prepare a way to prevent from such spams better, user's feedback is really important in this case and will help the team. But right know the best and most correct way is to report any spams individually as you did.

You can also use "Send feedback" and describe the issue completely. Or you can warn moderators privately in this forum. But because of many reports allover the world do not expect that Google respond to you in this case individually.

Thanks

[EkendraL]

@Amiran, that's right about the global issue. And yes, I have been reporting individually and sending feedback as well. Hope this gets well with Google coming up with new ways to address this issue in future.

[TraciC · Accepted solution]

@EkendraL Hi there. There have been a few conversations here on Connect around spam, so I'm writing to share the policy (of which you've already noted doing the first part). 

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.
I also recommend reading this post for tips on searching, posting and interacting with the community to make your experience here on Connect much more enjoyable and easier to navigate.

[EkendraL]

Thanks for your reply @TraciC. I will do as suggested to make make Google Maps a better place for all of us.

[HTMaps]

Dear @TraciC

Thanks for your clear explanation.

But as Mr. @EkendraL said, report of spam picture has slow process.

I had report few picture spam about 1 year before, but until now I didn't see (or hear) any response from google. for example https://goo.gl/maps/cUfqUL8LV7t .

I would be glad to hear form you.

Thanks

[Svivek397]

thank you.

but we found many of fake or spam photos on map, many contributor doing these thing, i requesting please make it faster process for removing fake photo or any spam on google map.