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How to identify and report fraud on Google Maps

Googler

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.

 

 

Maps listings with keywords in their address fieldsMaps listings with keywords in their address fields

 

 

.:: 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?

 

  1. Find the business on Google Maps
  2. Scroll down and select Suggest an edit
  3. Tap Place is permanently closed or has never existed
  4. Select Spam, fake or offensive as the reason
  5. Tap Submit

Report the listing as spam flowReport the listing as spam flow

 

 

.::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.).
2,851 Comments
Level 1

Done that several times.

Level 7

It will work, just be patient. I reported things and issues before they were taken down. longest one took a few weeks, but that function does make a difference. 

Level 10

Hi @MariaBi, I'd like to report 2 local guides, please contact me.
This regards 2 different local guides who are posting many similar photos across different shops. They are not doing it on behalf of the businesses.

Thank you

Dave

I want to report a spammer, please contact me 🙂

Level 6

As has been mentioned before many times in this thread, you need to tag someone like @MariaBi.

Level 5

Hi connect community !

@MariaBi

Just read this post and have a profile to report to you, "someone" who sent 21000 photos but only 5 or 6 are different... I tried to tag it weeks ago but nothing happened.

Please could you explain why we can't share that person's information publicly ? When it's a bot ? robot privacy ? 😉

[REDACTED]

 

 

Level 9

@jojoledemago  Have you followed the steps in the article on how to report a guide?  The reason for not reporting publically is to protect a user.  Also, tag some moderators like @

Former Google Contributor

Thanks, @rob_hunter.

 

@strangerparadise@nottmdave, I have reached out to you via private messages with more details on how to share the information with the team. 

New to Connect? Check out Help Desk! Always keep in mind the Local Guides program rules when posting.

Level 5

Thank you @davidcox but it's exactly What I do... I already tagged one moderator, no need to disturb 2 other ones, isn't it ? I'm just waiting for a private message to send the profile.

Have a good day

Level 6

@TraciC, I'd like some instructions on how to report a Local Guide user that's posting irrelevant content. Cheers. 

Former Google Contributor

Hey @LifeWorrier, I've reached out via private message with details on how to share more information with the team.

New to Connect? Check out Help Desk! Always keep in mind the Local Guides program rules when posting.

Level 9

@jojoledemago  Hope you get it resolved. Unfortunately, they will not tell you specifics of the outcome.

Level 8

Hi @Geneva,

 

Can you give a brief summary of the linked video in English to help more of us to learn what it is about?

Level 5

I would like to report a spammer

 

cc @MariaBi@JeslynL

Former Google Contributor

Thanks @ZachLassiter

 

I'll contact you via private message. 

 

* Due to the volume of private messages please note that I do not reply to them
Connect Moderator

I found a local guide that has been uploading a photo of his business card everywhere, I couldn't find a single photo that was of the actual place. He also put the same video 20+ times in a shop, showing a service his business does.

@MariaBi please contact me.

 

Former Google Contributor

Hello @Jesi, I have reached out to you via private message with details about sharing such information with the team. Please check your inbox. Thank you so much!

Level 5

I'm having the same issue in my area. It was brought to my attention when he left a negative review on my business account. Upon further investigation into this guide's recent reviews he has posted several daily at places all over Ontario. It looks like he is just leaving reviews on absolutely everything to get more points regardless of if he has visited the place or even the town the business is located in. I guess my question here is how can we have guides removed or make them at least verify that they are an actual person and not just a spam bot or something like that. 

 

I see that your response to the OP says that this is possible.

 

Thanks,

 

Sean

Level 3

I couldnt find the feature to report a profile completely however im pretty sure that a guy is just reposting the same pictures on all the locations he could find that are completely irrelevant. I did report some of his posts but i would appreciate it if someone could contact me so can I link the profile, thx in advance 🙂

Level 10

Hi @Borazan Please, use the report flag on the review/image. If you feel like you find a spammer, please, don't share here public info, but tag a Google Moderator (look here: https://www.localguidesconnect.com/t5/forums/v3_1/forumtopicpage/board-id/LGDiscussion/page/1/thread...) to request support. They will contact you through private message.

For further informations, read here: https://www.localguidesconnect.com/cmxpv89733/board/message?board.id=LGDiscussion&message.id=30997#M...

Thanks

Former Google Contributor

@LucioV, thank you for your help! 

 

@BorazanI have reached out to you via private message with details about sharing such information with the team. Please check your inbox. Thank you!

Former Google Contributor

Hi @jojoledemago

 

Thanks for tagging one of us. I'll reach you privately shortly.

* Due to the volume of private messages please note that I do not reply to them
Level 3

Please can I report a spammer @MariaBi  thank you.

Former Google Contributor

Hi @iamjulian

 

I will reach you shortly via private message. Thanks for flagging.

 

 

* Due to the volume of private messages please note that I do not reply to them
Level 3

Hello, 

In the area that I live and review in there is a local spammer who has placed spam pictures all over the google pages of local businesses. I have grown weary of trying to report every single instance where he has uploaded these spam pictures, and neither the pictures, nor his google account have been acted upon and taken down. How do I need to go about this? This person is a "Local Guide" but the only thing he has ever posted are the same picture, advertising a local gym on the pages of businesses that are not his, nor has he any relation to. How can I get this guy taken down as the annoying spammer that he is? 

 

Thanks!

Level 10

Hi @Tmoney please, remove the link, for privacy concerns, and report some content.

Please, use the report flag on the review/image. If you feel like you find a spammer, please, don't share here public info, but tag a Google Moderator (look here: https://www.localguidesconnect.com/t5/forums/v3_1/forumtopicpage/board-id/LGDiscussion/page/1/thread...) to request support. They will contact you through private message.

For further informations, read here: https://www.localguidesconnect.com/cmxpv89733/board/message?board.id=LGDiscussion&message.id=30997#M...

Thanks

Level 3

Thanks a bunch @LucioV!

 

@TraciC, Would you be able to help me with this issue?

 

Thanks!

Former Google Contributor

Thank you so much! @LucioV

 

Hello @Tmoney, thank you for reaching out to us here in Connect. I have reached out to you via private message with details about sharing such information with the team. Please check your inbox. Again, thank you!

Level 3

@Atsukot Thank you very much. Email sent. 

Level 2

I want to report a Spammer, please contact me.@YK1001

 

Thanks

Level 8

Thank you for making Maps better.

 

Our Google Moderators will contact you soon.

Former Google Contributor

@Vain11, I've sent you a private message with details on how to share the information with the team. Thanks!

New to Connect? Check out Help Desk! Always keep in mind the Local Guides program rules when posting.

Level 5

Hello,

 

I want to report spammer who is posting irrelevant images a lot.

 

Please contact me.

 

Thanks.

Working for better maps!
Former Google Contributor

Hi @kamran_1111

Thanks for reaching us. I'll contact you shortly with further instruction.

* Due to the volume of private messages please note that I do not reply to them
Level 5

A Google Guide, likely a former employee of the company, has entered multiple 1-star reviews on all company locations in a single week.

As we are a roofing company with costly and know our clients well, it is abundantly clear that these are fraudulent reviews.

 

Can you help me redress this?

Former Google Contributor

Hello @deforeman, thank you for reaching out to us here! I have reached out to you via private message with details about sharing such information with the team. Please check your inbox. Thank you so much. 

Level 6

@MariaBi

 

I need to report a spammer, please.

 

There is somebody spamming hundreds of 1 star reviews on the Map pages of lawyers across Poland. 

I would like to report users that have posted a fake one star review meant to hurt a small local business. I suspect it may be a disgruntled employee. What can I do?

KLHN1986
Level 2

Hi there,  was the fake review post, resolved for you?

Level 8

I tried to report mega-giga-hiper-spammer on the Maps - not once, and his 'reviews' and POIs are still on the Maps.

This user add (sit down please!) more than 180000 POIs (!) 'review' more than 16000 POIs (now he has 'only' 3100 reviews - also almost all are spam) and 'edit' 210000 places.

Yes! 210 thousand, 180 thousand 🙂 and more than 410 000 points as LG.

I see that some of his 'reviews' are removed, but points for editing are untouched (probably edits also are fake - moving POI +/i 1m or similar). I can't see what he added, but 180000 new POIs can't be real.

This user should be permanent banned (or under special control) and all his changes should be reversed (also points).

Typical 'reviews' (translating to english by me :)): "height 480 m ASL" or "lenght 350m", or "founded in 1873" or "fee" 🙂

 

ps: August 28th he had 382000 points and 170000 added POIs. About 10000 new (!) places per month.

 

 

 

Map TC, Gmail TC, Chrome RS, Map RER/RL (retired), LG L8, G+ Community Moderator
Level 9

Well done for your excellent work here @LovelyPL.  We need more Guides to identify people who abuse the system.

Level 6

It sounds impossible also would be imposable to visit 10thosend places and write reviews 🙂

I am not good with words but with photographs. So I get my pints from there.

Nearly a Level6 but I just calculated and for me to get on Level 10 I need to take 20 thousand photos 🙂

What will take some time if I keep the quality, what I am planning to do. I mean it's your name out there and that should count for something.

I can not understand these type of people, what a shame.

 

Level 2

@TraciC, I'm trying to get you guys to notice the activity of a guy in our area who is posting fake reviews on businesses pages just to get points/rewards. Please message me so I can send his profile. He's going around Google Maps and reviewing businesses in the area he's never been to, just to get "Local Guide" points/rewards. It's pretty obvious he's never been to most of them when you scroll through his reviews of all these places. When he does this, it brings down the local businesses' star average for no reason other than his personal gain.

Level 3

Hello i need to report two local guides who daily leave tens of bad reviews to all activities. How can i let them to be checked by google? Thank you

Level 5

Still nothing on this. Have the mods and admins abandoned us?

Level 10

@JeslynL,

 

I think you can help with this. This hasn't been addressed as far as I know, would you be able to shoot a message?

Former Google Contributor

Thanks for tagging me, @Briggs. It was the weekend + the Summit was just over so there are limited resources here on Connect. The volume of posts on Connect often get ahead of us though we do check in as much as we can. 

 

@InfraOrange, from earlier posts, I gather you may have sent Traci a private message. But as with most moderators, we state in our profiles that we do not read/respond to private messages simply due to the volume of messages we get daily. I have sent you and @Lucacap a private message each with more details on how to share information of spammers with the team. Check your inbox, thanks!

New to Connect? Check out Help Desk! Always keep in mind the Local Guides program rules when posting.

Level 9

@MariaBi quando hai tempo mi puoi contattare ti vorrei segnalare una persona

 

Grazie

Level 3

@TraciC I wish to report a local guide for a violation of the community guidelines

Level 2

Hi

 

I would like to anonymously report a local guide who I believe has been making up reviews about places that he has not visited in order to boost his status.

 

Please PM me.

 

Thank you and best wishes

 

S