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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 5

 @NadyaPN

np, I thought I read that somewhere, but was not sure anymore, now I am 😉

meh
Level 9

@Rodrigo_P

@TraciC

Fraudsters are misusing edit feature of Google maps to steal money from people. There was a case reported in Mumbai India with local cyber crime authorities that someone has changed the phone number of bank on Google maps to show it as legit ,and started contacting bank customers impersonating bank employees and gathered customers personal credit card details to steal money from their account. 

Another case which I am mentioning here is 14th century monument Adalaj stepwell in Ahmedabad, India most commonly known as Adalaj wav. (I had been to this place last week and uploaded lots of photos/videos)  . I noticed that it is now appearing as kwaja waley and suggesting me to upload photos (I had been to this place last week and uploaded lots of photos/videos  . on maps (screenshot attached). I got concerned and already reported edit and flagged it spam. 

However think this is a permanent solution . Can you people at Google maps program team explore to disable edits for sensitive/important places . Some parameters like name, phone nos in case of banks can be disabled for editing. 

#responsible mapping, #local guides

@Shrut19

 

@Shrut19

 

@Shrut19

 

Connect Moderator

@NGUDAPE the cool thing about crowd sourcing is that you get the most up to date data, freedom to edit is important to allow people to make the changes they need to make. This is also the uncool thing about crowd sourcing is that people can take advantage of it. Once reported the culprits are usualy caught and dealt with. It is better to manage the small number of exceptions than restrict the abilities of the community.

 

The best way forward is to teach the businesses to claim their entires so that they start to manage them via Google My Business https://business.google.com/ this will place some edit restrictions on the entry.

Level 9

@PaulPavlinovich. Don't expect such general statement for such a serious issue which affecting lives of people. People trust google maps and I believe Google also believe to better lives of people with its products. All I was suggesting is to explore to disable edit to certain important information  and not to take away freedom of expression or adding information on crowd sourcing platform i.e. Local Guides. I also believe MAPS is running and providing information much before than the start of  crowd sourcing programme. My personal opinion is to check  if crowd sourcing is doing more harm than good and take a call. Anyway as a responsible #local guide and most importantly responsible member of my community I would keep contributing and correcting anything I found inappropriate.  It is again up to you people at Google that how do you want to run the MAPS program. 

Connect Moderator

@NGUDAPE I must clarify an assumption you've made, I do not work for or represent Google. I'm a Local Guide just like you. It happens that one of my areas of contribution is moderating Connect and helping people like you.

 

The people who make the inappropriate edits are far outnumbered by good people like yourself who will report and attempt to fix issues. This is why crowd sourcing works. Look at Wikipedia as an example, that is probably the biggest crowd sourced body of knowledge. It is so well managed by its volunteers (that are essentially the Local Guides of the encylopedia) that it is regarded more highly that professional encyclopedias to the point that those printed reference tomes no longer exist.

 

I do understand your issue, but I don't see restriction as the answer. I don't doubt that you will find data provided by people trying to game the system and trying to commit fraud. This happens to the actual banks too, not just their Maps entries. Whenever there is an opportunity some miscreants will seek ways to take advantage. Report them and action will happen. If there is something you think is urgent then there are methods in this post for dealing with the fraud.

Level 10

ich habe da mal eine frage ist es euch schon mal passiert das eure Fotos von Google Maps geklaut Worten ist und hier sieht die Fotos auf Google Maps bei einen dem seine Nahmen ist [REDACTED].; der hat mir Fotos von Deutschland und Frankreich Geklaut .( nicht nur  von mir ) ich habe bei Maps oft Geschrieben das es meine Fotos sind die er hoch geladen hat , bis jetzt ist nichts passiert Leider .  man Mus viel Fahren und zeit aufbringen und die andren klauen einfach die Fotos von Maps,

 das sind die Daten von dem Foto wo er Geklaut hat  Die 18.12.2018
22:18
das ist von  mein Foto  die Daten 2018-12-18.png
0,7 MP
1080×604
1,4 MB

  Schaden das Google nichts dagegen macht : Mit freundlichen grüßen   gür Wahram TIM

Level 10

ich Frag mich wieso Google Maps nichts dagegen macht das andre die Bilder beim Maps runder Laden und bei sich wieder hoch laden ,das ist mir Passiert . es sind mehrere Bilder von mir geklaut worden . das habe ich oft Google geschrieben und auch wer es gemacht hat 

  Bist jetzt ist nichts Passiert . ich habe auch gemerkt das nicht nur er es macht es sind mehr Leute die es machen . und die machen ein Bild von ein Zimmer in mehre Länder rein Das Gleiche Foto Mal in Türkei dann Frankreich  dann mal in Deutschland

20180730_165122.jpg20180730_165206.jpg20180730_165433.jpg

 

Connect Moderator

Hi @Timgür I'm sorry to hear that someone has been taking your images. Please do not mention the person in your post. It would be good if you could edit out that name please.

 

I will merge your two similar posts.

 

Can you please send to me via private message some example links of photos you've added to Maps and links to the same photos shared by the other person?

 

Regards Paul

Level 5

@NGUDAPE

Please consider to post your suggestion in the idea exchange forums. So that other people can vote for it and it is seen by Google employees and moderators. Moreover you shouldn't tag TraciC here. Better take an other moderator e.g. @NadyaPN if you have an actual problem with a specific member or group of members that should be reported because of fraud.

 

Here is a list of Google Moderators that should be tagged in case of problems.

meh
Former Google Contributor

Hi @Timgür,

 

I'm really sorry that you have been caught in this unpleasant situation, but like @PaulPavlinovich has already mentioned we do not encourage Local Guides to share private information publicly, such as names, phone numbers, addresses, etc. and this is why I redacted your post.

 

Since you have found a Local Guide who violates our Program Rules, I sent you a private message with some additional details how you can report such people.

 

One final thing, I merged your post with a more appropriate thread.

Due to the volume of private messages Google Moderators receive, I do not read or respond to private messages. Please post publicly so others may benefit from your discussion. If you require urgent assistance, please tag a Google Moderator. Thank you!

Level 10

To improve google Map experience in our local Area and to control misuse  by some new LG's i want Google to have more control and filter for already Genuine Places and photographs. 

 

While admitting that  while there are lot of new LG's having  genuine and honest contribution , it is a fact that there are some just having GM for time pass and misuse or getting points  by not following values and by abusing already genuine places being created by LG by using time and energy... I had bad experiences to mention some for more control, filtering and action. 

 

 For example  I had one correct  place by name Nilgiri Garden which was changed to Gardan by some unknown LG and one Bhagat School changed to Bhagar School by unknown LG. Both were approved and they got points with  out checking or filtering by Google just to encourage them. But it took lot of time and energy to correct it later which was  double time waste for me.

 

In another case   i published photographs of a School which i think was  upto  standard. But next day i could notice  Review of the School one very bad  comments by a new LG.

 

The problem was  that not only Google approved but also gave points.without knowing which hurt me a lot.The misuse guy became hero while i have to flag so many times to remove that comment .Can there be any filter for such misuse even at the very beginning before publishing.

jojo
Former Google Contributor

Hi @jojo522,

 

Thank you for reaching with us.

 

It is indeed inconvenient following such issues.

 

If you need to learn more about how to report inappropriate content on Google Maps, please, take a look on the How to identify and report fraud on Google Maps thread, where I've merged your post.

 

Also, in case you come across a suspicious account, please do not hesitate to tag a Google Moderator.

Due to the volume of private messages Google Moderators receive, I do not read or respond to private messages. Please post publicly so others may benefit from your discussion. If you require urgent assistance, please tag a Google Moderator.
Thank you!
Level 6

 

JQUEST23 > The guy my company yells at when they are afraid of Tech.
Level 5

Hey guys, quick question here as I think this constitutes fraud but want to make sure

 

Owner of business A retired and sold business to owner of business B. Owner of business B moves the business (retail shop) to a new location, no employees, branding or almost anything outside of the physical merchandise and some fixtures go with. At the physical store front (and on Google Street view) the name on the building is business B, the phone and email all say business B in the Google listing. Google maps now has business A in the new location and I believe it is the owner that has done this because business A has much better reviews than business B. All of the photos associated with business A are still on the Google listing as well even though the photos are all at the old location.

 

If one searches maps for the actual name of Buisiness B it will show up in the same location (but as a separate listing) but if you search for the type of business (for example "car dealership") the only one that shows up is business A.

 

Thoughts?

Level 5

@jquest2323

You shouldn't tag TraciC here she won't answer. Better take an other moderator e.g. @NadyaPN if you have an actual problem with a specific member. Here is a list of Google Moderators that should be tagged in case of problems. Thanks. But in your case you should visit Google My Business Forums and create a post there too - if you want to report your own business issues with suspicious reviewers activity.

 

meh
Level 5

@Trbo323

You have the posibility to report the old business as closed. If the name and location changed there is a high posiblity that enough votes will accumulate soon so that the old listing gets removed. Even if the new owner does manage the old entry. I might be wrong but it probably will happen. So I suggest reporting it as closed

meh
Level 2

We have a former employee, who was fired for cause, that keeps getting one of their buddies to post hateful, inaccurate and slanderous reviews in an attempt  to reduce our over all rating.  We are speaking with a lawyer about suing the former employee for slander but were also hoping to report her buddy as he is using his local guide status inappropriately for revenge reviews.

Connect Moderator

Thanks for reaching us, @VaderLove

 

I am sorry about your experience.

Please read this post to know how to report a Local Guide: How to identify and report fraud on Google Maps

 

Also, for more control in your Business listing, I suggest you to join for free Google Mybusiness https://www.google.com/business/

 

Former Google Contributor

Hi @VaderLove,

 

Thanks for reaching out.

 

I am going to send you a private message with further instructions.

 

You could follow advice given by @ErmesT and take a look at the thread he had mentioned. Please note that I've merged your post to it.

Due to the volume of private messages Google Moderators receive, I do not read or respond to private messages. Please post publicly so others may benefit from your discussion. If you require urgent assistance, please tag a Google Moderator. Thank you!
Former Google Contributor

 Hi @jquest2323,

 

Thank you for reaching out. To learn how to report an inapropriate review please read the Flag inappropriate reviews topic.

 

If you need moderation assistance from a Googler in the future, make sure to tag one of the Google Moderators.

Due to the volume of private messages Google moderators receive, I do not read or respond to private messages. Please post publicly so others may benefit from your discussion. If you require urgent assistance, please tag a Google Moderator. Thank you!

Former Google Contributor

Hi @Trbo323,

 

Thank you for reaching out. You can report an error on the map by following the instructions in the Report an error on the map topic.

Due to the volume of private messages Google moderators receive, I do not read or respond to private messages. Please post publicly so others may benefit from your discussion. If you require urgent assistance, please tag a Google Moderator. Thank you!

A Google Local Guide is spamming thousands of photos to businesses in South Bend, Indiana.

see my client's GMB page here.     This place is a butcher shop/meat market. And she has posted hundreds of completeley unrelated photos. I looked at her other photo contributions and she's basically spamming photos to a bunch of other GMB profiles in that city, too.

 

@DanniS

 

hey local guides, i found that there are innumerable almost similar or duplicate photos of the same place posted which hesitates a person to further explore the photos section of any place...its my suggestion for #googlemoderator to atleast remove the duplicates photos and make the page more valuable 

Former Google Contributor

Hi @VISHALGATTANI

 

Thank you for reaching out. I will now send you a private message with instructions how to report Local Guides who have posted duplicated content. Just keep in mind we won't be able to share the results of the investigation with you.

If you need to learn more about how to report inappropriate content on Google Maps, please, take a look on the How to identify and report fraud on Google Maps thread, where I've merged your post.

Due to the volume of private messages Google Moderators receive, I do not read or respond to private messages. Please post publicly so others may benefit from your discussion. If you require urgent assistance, please tag a Google Moderator. Thank you!

Other vigilant guides report misrepresentation of fraud by mischief and harassment, and this is my step to take action against them.

Former Google Contributor

Thank you for sharing your idea, @AMARNAMBAZLUL. We are going to need a little bit more details to make sure we are on the same page. Do you have a specific verification procedure in mind?

Due to the volume of private messages Googlers receive, I do not read or respond to private messages. Please post publicly so others may benefit from your discussion. If you require urgent assistance, please tag a Google Moderator. Thank you!
Level 1

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

I would like to report a spammer, possibly a bot with over 2500 one star reviews with no comment and currently a level 6 local guide

Level 5

I found multiple listings that are clearly fraudulent with the bail bonds locations..

 

https://www.google.com/search?q=fullerton%20bail%20bonds&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS831US831&oq=fullerton+bail+...

 

The company name is actually Barbarian Bail Bonds, using the keyword "fullerton bail bonds" to trick the ranking process.

 

Another listing called "fullerton bail bonds"

Is also Fast Track Bail Bonds... 

 

You can always check to see if their listing is real with the Dep of Insurance, Most of these companies do not have a DBA filed with thier fake business names. Please advise . 

Level 5

@Vivek_Sankar

Don't tag TraciC she won't answer and is an Administrator, here is list of Google Moderators that you can tag. I will tag one for you @TsekoV.

meh
Level 5

@nepodmitljivi

You have to tag a Google Moderator see my post from above, which I did for you right now, @TsekoV.

meh
Former Google Contributor

Hi @thex,

 

Thank you for tagging me. What you said is correct. If people have issues should tag one of the Google Moderators.

 

@Vivek_Sankar and @nepodmitljivi I'm sending you a private message now with instructions on how to report other Local Guides.

Due to the volume of private messages Google Moderators receive, I do not read or respond to private messages. Please post publicly so others may benefit from your discussion. If you require urgent assistance, please tag a Google Moderator. Thank you!

Level 5

Please contact me for details .I am not posting details here to protect everyone's privacy. 

Hi,

I've come across  a   local guide with suspicious activity, and  earlier today, reported one of these  reviews. After looking at their pattern of activity,  I would like to report this person as a Local Guides spammer, and request assistance.

@BruceDM

@KlaudiyaG

 

 

Thanks,

Steve

Former Google Contributor

Hi @Uberzj and welcome to Connect!

 

Thank you so much for respecting our rules! Please note that I've sent you a private message that contains some additional information how you can report Local Guides who you think are breaking our regulations.

 

P.S.: I merged your post to a more suitable thread called How to identify and report fraud on Google Maps. This will help reduce clutter on Connect.

Due to the volume of private messages Google Moderators receive, I do not read or respond to private messages. Please post publicly so others may benefit from your discussion. If you require urgent assistance, please tag a Google Moderator. Thank you!

Level 5
Dears, I was addressed to this forum to solve this issue. There is a guy who is leaving many reviews to local activities without coherence between score and comment (e. g. He gives 1 star and writes excellent as a comment). This way he is lowering the average score of many places and this is not good for people who quickly look at the average score and for the shops/restaurants themselves. I will send the profile via private message. I hope you can sort this issue out. Best wishes, Roberto
Former Google Contributor

Hi @ziorobben,

 

Thanks for reaching out.  

 

I am going to send you a private message with instructions how to report a Local Guide.

Due to the volume of private messages Google Moderators receive, I do not read or respond to private messages. Please post publicly so others may benefit from your discussion. If you require urgent assistance, please tag a Google Moderator. Thank you!

There are some disturbing reviews that I come across that bother me. Merely clicking report, and hoping someone will agree based on a limited selection of choices as to why it’s wrong isn’t good enough. It’s become evident that some individuals are misusing features in an abusive manner!

Former Google Contributor

Hi @SerenityUnmasked,

Thanks for your contribution.

 

Please note that such a procedure already exists on Connect. Here in the How to identify and report fraud on Google Maps article you can find how it can be done.

 

Please note that since what you're suggesting is not an idea, I am going to merge your post to the above mentioned thread.

Due to the volume of private messages Google Moderators receive, I do not read or respond to private messages. Please post publicly so others may benefit from your discussion. If you require urgent assistance, please tag a Google Moderator. Thank you!
Level 10

It seems spamming of photo that nothing to do with the place are increasing. I mark them as photos not of this place but they are never removed. One place had a dead dear at a fast food restaurant.

Former Google Contributor

Yes, of course @SteveinColorado and thank you for mentioning me! In your inbox, you'll find a message from me, so feel free to check it out. 🙂

Due to the volume of private messages Google Moderators receive, I do not read or respond to private messages. Please post publicly so others may benefit from your discussion. If you require urgent assistance, please tag a Google Moderator. Thank you!

Former Google Contributor

Hi @Mstehouwer,

 

Thanks for reaching out.

 

As far as I understand you've reported the photos as "Wrong place". Have you tried to report them as "Spam"? Do you report the particular photo by clicking the three dots in the upper right corner?

 

Here in the How to identify and report fraud on Google Maps article you can find some useful tips about how to report inappropriate content on Google Maps. By the way I've merged your post to it, because it fits better there.

Due to the volume of private messages Google Moderators receive, I do not read or respond to private messages. Please post publicly so others may benefit from your discussion. If you require urgent assistance, please tag a Google Moderator. Thank you!

There is a guy show is stealing photos from the site I'm working for (www.yamu.lk). I tried to report individual photos, but it takes a lot of time to report a single photo and he had uploaded so many. I am not mentioning the name here as per the instruction on your help article (https://www.google.lk/search?safe=active&q=local+guides+connect+report+a+local+guide&spell=1&sa=X&ve...). Please let me know how to report this person.

 

Also, it would be great if the reporting process was more simple and clear. It took me around half an hour to figure that out and i had to create a contributor account. It is almost like you guys don't want us to report your "local guide."

@GeorgesHR@KlaudiyaG@NadyaPN@MarinS@Ivi_Ge@MashaPS@JavieraAu , @FelipePK , @IrrPavlova@DeniGu@Sorbe@AngieYC@InaS@VasT@AlexaAC@TsekoV@sonnyNg@DanniS@MoniDi@Petra_M@KatyaL@MortenSI@RadieN@Aruni@VitB@MoniV@LilyanaZ@BorrisS and @PoliMC

Former Google Contributor

Hi @chandana_yamulk,

 

Thank you for reaching out! In fact you don't need to create a new account to report a Local Guide. I'm going to send you a private message with instructions on how to report this specific user so our team can look into this person's account and take any appropriate action, though we won't be able to share the final decision as we respect everyone's privacy.

 

We ask that you do not share any information publicly about the person you think may be violating our policies as we respect everyone’s privacy.

 

I would like to also remind you that over-tagging other Local Guides on Connect is considered harassment and it is a direct violation of the Local Guides Rules. Please tag only one Google Moderator next time when you have any issue.

Due to the high volume of private messages, Google Moderators receive, I do not read or respond to private messages. Please post publicly so others may benefit from your discussion. If you require urgent assistance, please tag a Google Moderator. Thank you!

Thank you for respond. I'd love to know how to report a local guide without creating an account here and posting a message like this. Of course, you've sent me an email address to send the report. But to get that email address, I have to post a message here, right?  At least that's what your help page says. Please correct me if I am wrong. 

Former Google Contributor

Yes, @chandana_yamulk, that's right. When you want to report a Local Guide, it's best to write in the thread How to identify and report fraud on Google Maps, where I'm also moving your post.

Due to the high volume of private messages, Google Moderators receive, I do not read or respond to private messages. Please post publicly so others may benefit from your discussion. If you require urgent assistance, please tag a Google Moderator. Thank you!

Много раз предлагал исправить спамное название в картах. И ничего не поменялось.

 

https://goo.gl/maps/8snsmDUMbpm   - правильно - Монумент Славы (RU)

https://goo.gl/maps/5aa2Up8g9nG2  - правильно - Музей янтаря (Музей Бурштину  - ukr)

Level 5

Hi there! I'm a local guide and noticed a local guide account with a fake name that is spamming local businesses with one-star reviews and vague negative comments. It seems pretty obvious that they are not sharing real experiences. One of the comments is on the business where I work. The help guide on this forum said to create a post and tag a moderator for this problem. @NadyaPN @MarinSt

Former Google Contributor

Hello @Maltee,

Thanks for reaching out!

 

I will contact you privately with instructions on how to proceed from here. 

 

Note that I have moved your post to How to identify and report fraud on Google Maps to keep Connect organised.

Due to the volume of private messages Google Moderators receive, I do not read or respond to private messages. Please post publicly so others may benefit from your discussion. If you require urgent assistance, please tag a Google Moderator. Thank you!

Level 2

@Rodrigo_P Would you mind having a look at this guy? He just spammed one of my clients with tons of awful photos. HUGE spammer.

 

<REDACTED>