How to identify and report fraud on Google Maps

[Rodrigo_P]

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 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 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.).

[thex]

@hyaline 

I see the problem you have with the person, however please remove the link to his profile you will be contacted in private by the mod. Do not publicly shame other people to respect their privacy. You can also directly report the reviews as inappropriate, this might also be an option in your case. Thanks

[sachinpagire]

Hello, Sir, I think location point problem please edit location

[MortenSI]

Hello @hyaline,

Thanks for reaching out!

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

Note that I have removed your link due to privacy reasons.

[Anonymous]

Thanks @Rodrigo_P 

This is known issue which I also face I found a place that was using a company name at another place where the company was not located and not published on map so I edit the place location by moving map point. 

[zeldaa75]

Bonjour,  ok bien compris. ....#fraude google

[KlaudiyaG]

Bonjour @zeldaa75,

Je veux simplement te souhaiter la bienvenue et de t'informer que ton poste n'est plus dans la Spam Quarantine. Je suis vraiment désolée pour le dérangement causé - nos filtres antispam sont sensibles et peuvent être déclenchés par une multitude de fonctions.

À bientôt 🙂

[Kingsolo]

There is a owner of a restaurant in Scarborough who reply to negative comments with racist comments. How do I report that ?

[MincedCutlet]

@MortenSI 

I would like to report some spam accounts, they are posting unrelated duplicate pictures across several business locations.

[MortenSI]

Thanks for reaching out @MincedCutlet!

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

[Ivi_Ge]

Hello @Kingsolo ,

Thank you for reaching out to us.

I am going to contact you privately. 

[Yuriy_Hlopko]

@MashaPS  
Hi!
this user is actively spamming on Maps in Kiev
He uploaded 4,400 identical photos to different locations in Kiev.
[PERSONAL INFORMATION REMOVED]

Regards, Yuri

[Anonymous]

@Yuriy_Hlopko  kliknij na zdjęcie, w prawym górnym rogu będzie horągiewka, kliknij, zgłoś zdjęcie. Pozdrawiam 😊

[Yuriy_Hlopko]

Yes you are right, but there 4,400 identical photos 😞

[JohnPeter]

Thanks dear @Rodrigo_P for the detailed information. It's really helpful to see all the offenses and reporting procedures. 

Regarding reporting a local guide, under what category post it in connect? 

Thanks in advance, 

John Peter

[thex]

@JohnPeter 

Depending on what you want to report you can do it here. If the respective LG is acting malicious multiple times and frequently you are in the correct thread. You have to tag a Google moderator, please bare in mind that you take one out of this list. I do that for you now. In the meantime please roughly explain what issue(s) do you have with the person thanks. But please respect the privacy and do not backlink to the profile or anything like that. @Ivi_Ge 

[KatkaP]

Dear Google and moderators (don’t know which one to tag... @Ivi_Ge)

I found this forum here because I want to report a local guide, who is actually just a small child playing with maps and giving random stars all over the places.

I also have to say that I‘m very disappointed finding out how this whole review system works, how so fraud-prone it is, and how unbelievably hard and time consuming it is to find a help. The local guides badge and chasing for higher ranking by giving more and more reviews is encouriging people to give unfair and not real reviews.

Why isn't it much better thought through? Why is it allowed to give just a rating with no text? why are the reviewers anonymous?

At least the necessity of a 50 character text review and removing the anonymity of reviewers would help to deal with this growing problem of fake reviews.

In many cases, this can be devastating for the businesess and there is no way to defend. It is very frustrating and soon or later not worth having a GMB account.

I understand the importance of negative reviews, but they should be based on the truth, not a result of kids playing with phone, chasing for higher levels of local guide, revenge, or competition between businesses. Reviews are a great deal for many businesses, but the system can be so easily abused.

[MashaPS]

Hey @Yuriy_Hlopko,

Thanks for reaching out.

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

Please note that I've edited your post. The personal information included in it was removed due to the other Local Guide's privacy. Sharing private information publicly is in violation of Local Guides Program Terms and Conditions.

Also I've merged your post to the How to identify and report fraud on Google Maps thread, just to keep Connect consistent.

[MashaPS]

Hi @KatkaP,

I will reach out to you via private message with instructions, too.

Also, thank you for your feedback. Here on Connect we have a section called Idea Exchange. In there you could freely share your ideas on how to improve the Local Guides Program. To learn more about the Idea Exchange, you can read How do I use the Idea Exchange? article.

Thank you.

[sukraM]

Good afternoon,

I was adding pictures to my visited places on Google Maps - but always received an error message "Server is not responding, try again". So I did... and found dozens of duplicates of my pictures on all the places I was contributing to!

Many will consider these photos fraud, including myself, because there are so many duplicates that I did not want to generate. I also echo @KatkaP because it took me WAY TO LONG to find a way to get support. I know that I can delete all pictures manually... but really?! It takes me almost an hour to delete 500 photos again.

Lastly: I cannot believe that Google Photos can tell two twins apart by using AI and face recognition, but that duplicates can be uploaded to Maps without problem. There are millions of Spam reviews and pictures and nothing seems to stop this from happening. VERY disappointed, this damages the entire Google Maps community and reputation. You better act quickly on this overwhelming problem. 

[ChowdhuryRahman]

Thank you. The information contained on the map was very important for us to exclude accurate and false, purpose-targeted information. Thank you for the benefit.

[Nunottx]

Hello,

in 28-09-2018 01:14 PM i reported a Local Guide here and using the e-mail as instructed, what i see is that nothing was changed, if google dont do their job right and promply, dont know what the hell are we doing for free.

we report abuse and try to make maps a place of trust regarding information, but it seems we are alone in this war.

Disapointing.

Nunottx

@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

"Nunottx

28-09-2018 01:14 PM

Rodrigo,

i need help reporting one Local Guide.

regards 

Nunottx"

[Nunottx]

Rodrigo,

i need help reporting one Local Guide.

regards 

Nunottx"

[FintoCubano]

(cc @Sorbe @LucioV @ermest)

Not comparable to Russia, but some minor spam is present in Italy too: I tried to remove them, but they were all not approved: 

6JP6+XX San Pio, Fontecchio AQ (Fontecchio and Vapro are some 900 km apart);

7G9Q+Q8 Villa Sant'Angelo, AQ (there's no pharmacy with this cacophonic-sounding name);

RH2H+96 Rome, Metropolitan City of Rome (these archeological exavations are non-existent in this location as the Via Appia archeological park comprises of a larger area, and certainly it's not known with this generic name)

X8F3+VC Lamezia Terme, Province of Catanzaro (Lamezia Terme is a town, certainly not a cafe in an olive orchard!)

HWV6+47 Macchia Valfortore, Province of Campobasso (This church in an italian village certainly doesnt have a Polish name)

Di Tullio (This is the surname of a person - very common in Villalfonsina - and not the name of the locality which is ''Pantano'');

to be continued...

[SergeySud]

Hi @FintoCubano ,

I really appreciate your problems, but it's have nothing to do with this topic. Please, don't overflow the topic by offtopic. Don't continue here, please. Thanks in advance.

[FintoCubano]

Hello @SergeySud 

The start of this very thread says: ''The team is aware of inaccurate contributions being made to some places on Google Maps. [...] In the meantime, if you've found a place with inaccurate information, please let us know by commenting on this thread with a link to that place and a Google Moderator will take note of the information.''

I took it as a generic (worldwide) request of providing examples of potential spamming with regards to ''some places on Google Maps''. I don't see this as being ''off topic'' or a major disruption (''overflow'') to this thread for which to beg ''please dont continue here''.

By tagging a moderator/Google moderator (in my case those taking care of Italy at the start of my post), they may look into the issue I flagged up and if they feel appropriate they will move my thread to a new one or close my thread. This I believe is what this forum is for.

Greetings.

[muchimuchio]

報告したいユーザーさんがいますので私に連絡をください

[HiroyukiTakisawa]

@muchimuchio さん

こんにちは。モデレーターさん方に連絡する際はタグ付けしておくとわかりやすいですよ。

念の為私の方で以下のようにタグ付けしておきます。次回ご利用時はお試しください。

@Atsukotさん @Ivi_Ge さん、よろしくお願いします。

[muchimuchio]

@HiroyukiTakisawa さん

ご親切にありがとうございます！

[MashaPS]

Hi @FintoCubano,

Thank you for being so proactive and trying to keep Google Maps a clear and helpful place for everyone.

You're right that this current thread was created hijacked POIs to be reported. And as it is written in the title it refers to Ukraine, Russia and CIS. That is what @SergeySud tried to explain you.

There is another general thread where I am going to merge your post - How to identify and report fraud on Google Maps. In there you can read how to report any fraud you stumble upon on Google Maps. 

Meanwhile I am tagging @Sorbe to help you with what you've reported now.

Thank you.

[Sorbe]

Hi @FintoCubano , 

First of all thank you very much for your help into this. I had a quick look in the examples that you have reported us, and my suggestion is to try and edit directly the places if you find that are not named correctly. To do it simply follow this article that explained you how to do it. 

Feel free to ask for our support once again if you need it. 

[FintoCubano]

Many thanks @Sorbe @MashaPS . I did try removing the places myself, but they were all not applied - I've been told my account has an issue with the algorithm as I have a low score, despite my level 10, so every edit I do is refused. That is why I flagged the spam places in this forum for your consideration.

Cheers

[Sorbe]

Hi @FintoCubano , 

Thank you for reaching out. 

We will have a look into your case, what we suggest you in the meantime is to try to close the places that you reported us on Google Maps.

Thank you again for your collaboration. 

[Nina123456]

Hi, can please one of google moderators get in touch via email as our business has problems with fake/ competitors reviews. Thanks

[DeniGu]

Hi @Nina123456,

You can flag inappropriate reviews for removal or head over to the Google My Business Help Center to receive better assistance. Please keep in mind that the Local Guides program and the Connect platform are for individuals only.

However, please let me know if you wish to report a specific Local Guide, so that I can send you a private message with instructions. Make sure to tag me or any of the other Google Moderators by writing the @ mark in front of the name.

Thank you!

[Izumi]

問題のある個人を報告したいので私に連絡をください。

@Ivi_Ge さんと @Atsukot さんにタグ付けします。

[MortenSI]

Hi @Izumi,

Thanks for reaching out!

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

In the mean time, please note that I have moved your post to How to identify and report fraud on Google Maps, to keep Connect organized.

[Atsukot]

@muchimuchio さん、いつもありがとうございます。プライベート・メッセージをお送りしましたのでご確認ください。また、こちらのスレッド：How to identify and report fraud on Google Maps （Googleマップでの不正行為を報告する方法）にMuchimuchioさんの投稿を統合しました。次回また報告したいケースがありましたら、こちらに投稿して、Google モデレーターをタグ付けしてください。

@Izumi さん、こんにちは。プライベート・メッセージが英語で届いていると思いますが、日本語で連絡していただいて大丈夫ですよ（念の為 :）。

宜しくお願いいたします。

[Izumi]

@MortenSI さん ありがとうございます。地図の情報が正しくなるのがわたしの目的なので、投稿が移動することは問題ありません。

@Atsukot さん、補足ありがとうございます。就寝前にスパムを見つけて投稿したので、返信が遅くなりました。

また、連鎖的に他のポリシー違反を見つけたので、再度返信先に送っても良いでしょうか。

[Atsukot]

@Izumi さん、こんにちは。はい、ぜひお願いします。 ご協力ありがとうございます。

[Nina123456]

Hi @DeniGu @I would like to report local superhost. Can you please send me more details how I can do that? Thanks 

[jessicajenkins]

I have seen a ton of these types of spam listings in Maps. I have reported them several times using the above example but nothing seems to change. Not sure what else to do. Any suggestions?

[rc29]

how is it best to report a group of individuals that are spamming with spam and inappropriate content, rather than report their 100's of posts

[IanSaul]

Aloha,

I have discovered a Google Ads/SEO/Website design company which is fraudulently creating accounts and leaving numerous reviews for businesses they provide service for.

As mentioned in the linked article, I am creating a post and tagging a moderator for assistance.

https://www.localguidesconnect.com/t5/Help-Desk/How-to-identify-and-report-fraud-on-Google-Maps/ba-p...

Thanks.  -Ian

@MarinSt 

[DeniGu]

Hi @Nina123456,

I'll send a private message with instructions on how to report this Local Guide. 

Thank you.

[DeniGu]

Hi @rc29,

Thank you for reaching out.

I'll contact you privately with instructions on how to report those specific Local Guides.

[MortenSI]

Hi @IanSaul,

Thanks for reaching out!

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

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

[mase_00_7]

Hi there,

I have just received a fake review on my Google Business listing. It was 4-star so not the end of the world, however this person is not a guest of ours, has never stayed with us and a quick look at their profile suggests they are spamming loads of reviews in a very short space of time.

The review in question is here - 

<REDACTED>

And the user is here - 

<REDACTED>

My business is Chalet Alpage - St Martin de Belleville.

Is this review able to be removed?

Many thanks,

Paul Mason

@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

[DhruvGulati]

I want to report a spaming local guide @GeorgesHR, @KlaudiyaG, @NadyaPN, @MarinS, @Ivi_Ge, @MashaPS, @JavieraAu , @FelipePK , @IrrPavlova, 

[IrrPavlova]

Hi @DhruvGulati.

Since you posted in Idea Exchange I need to ask you, are you trying to suggest reporting as an idea or do you want to report a specific Local Guide? If you have someone specific in mind, please don't hesitate to tag me and tell so. I also 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.

Also, your post is getting merged with How to identify and report fraud on Google Maps. 

[World-360]

Yes, I have met such fraudsters in the tourism business, they sell places in hotels, people come there is nothing else there.

[MortenSI]

Hello @mase_00_7,

Thanks for reaching out!

I will contact you privately regarding this matter. 

Please note that I have removed the links in your comment due to privacy reasons. 

For the future, please avoid tagging several moderators in a post. Tagging one moderator will do the job, on the notified moderator will act accordingly.