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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

We have the same problem. We have found a specific Google account that is used purely for spamming locations in Google Maps with nonsense, short irrelevant comments in reviews for the locations with the only intention to show up with their logo as advertising. They also had their logo uploaded as an image to the locations before but all that images seems to finally have been deleted now. Anyway there are still 600 reviews that also should have been deleted, or better the account with them, because they are just nonsense and we have reported some of them but that is time consuming and we can't report 600 useless reviews, that much time can't we afford on this! If you could look at the account and possibly delete it, then would we gladly bring you a link to it.

Level 3

I want to report a spammer that continues to influence a friends business by listing multiple fake 1 star reviews, which are 100% certifiable spam. The Local Guide accounts in question are:

 

 

<REDACTED>

Level 3

@TraciC I want to report spam that continues to influence a friends business by listing multiple fake 1 star reviews, which are all 100% certifiable spam. The Local Guide accounts in question are:

 

 

<REDACTED>

Googler

@EvanO As noted in earlier comments on this thread, please do not share the personal information (including URLs) of others or about yourself here on Connect. I have removed those URLs from your posts. 

 

If you find a review or photo that you think violates our 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 our policies (https://goo.gl/dsVNTC, https://goo.gl/G87xzJ) 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) 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'll send you a private message now. 


Note: 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 10
Hi fellows and the Local Guides Team,
 
Can you explain how to fight with spammers on Maps?
 
1. How to find Spam objects?
Using the Map Maker service, I can find Spam objects by phone number search. On Maps such a search is not possible. 
 
2. How to find a Spam's author?
All objects on Maps are anonymous. It is impossible to determine who and when were created or changed (spoiled) these objects.
 
3. How to report a spammer?
For example, the user <REDACTED> is a self employed estate agent. He is creates fictitious objects in the Real Estate Developer category. He is also changes the data of existing objects, by replacing the real phone number with his phone number. 
 
I personally deleted 122 fake objects created by this user. And according to the <REDACTED>, there are at least 49 similar objects. Given the fact that I'm not the only one who removes his objects, it can be not about hundreds, but thousands of objects on the Maps, only from one user.
 
As a Map Maker Regional Leader, I can not pass by such a massive injection of fake data. And as a Maps Forum Top Contributor, I also must to react to complaints from other users who wrote about this Spamer. The only question is how to react? There is not even any possibility to inform the user that he violates the rules.
Level 9
Level 9

Sadly unlike MM there's no easy way to flag a spammer. The process in Local Guides is to tag a Google Mod like @TraciC and wait for them to contact you. After that it can take a long time for any results (I also flagged a real estate spammer a month ago and their content and account is still live)

 

Btw if you don't redact your link to the spammer, the Mod will do so and ask you not to do it again

Level 10

@Pea: I didn't understand how to report a spammer on the forum without a link to the spammer's profile. BTW is a public link, not something secret. I've never heard that a link to a public user profile could violate the rules. Especially if is a link to the Local Guides profile, published on Local Guides Forum. It's very strange, isn't it?

The user publish his phone number everywhere, it is easy to find his channel in Youtube and his page on social sites - he is very active.

Level 9
Level 9

It is quite strange as all user profiles are effectively in the public domain, so by posting it in the forum you are not publishing anything secret or personal - however the Mods always say remove the links. I believe they work on the theory of 'innocent until proven guilty' even when the spammer in question is very obviously the one breaking the rules. C'est la vie!

Level 10

Well, then we will assume that I don't blame this user. I just inform that the user is creates fake objects and changes the data of existing objects, by replacing the real phone number with his phone number. :^)

Level 10

BTW, this user has published photos for 128 objects, and most of the photos (2-6 for each object) are photos stolen from the Internet (some photos even have a watermark) including many 3D-models that are created for objects that have not yet been built. :^) 

Level 3

Hi there I have concerns about a local guide Ive come across and was wondering how I can report them. The reviews are clearly fake but also they would most likely be considered harassment. How do I do this? 

 

I have their name and the listing of their reviews. 

Level 9
Level 9

You can flag indiviual reviews, but sadly there is no direct way to flag even the most obvious spammer. By tagging a Google Mod , eg @TraciC they will respond with the next steps for you

Googler

@PeterH If you find a review or photo that you think violates our 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 our policies (https://goo.gl/dsVNTC, https://goo.gl/G87xzJ) 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) 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.


Note: 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!.
Googler

@SergeySud If you find a review or photo that you think violates our 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 our policies (https://goo.gl/dsVNTC, https://goo.gl/G87xzJ) 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) 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.

 

As @Pea shared, we ask you not to share other people's information (including URLs) as you don't know for a fact that someone is a spammer and we don't share our decisions to confirm your report (as noted above). I've removed that information from your posts. 


Note: 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 3

I have found a Google Guide who's reviews are not only fake but his language is both threatening and hostile with unfounded accusations against companies. 

I'd like to report this to you guys to deal with. @TraciC

Level 10

You will be contacted by Google Moderators for reporting this user, meanwhile you can try also to report the review(s) you find that are not following the reviews guidelines.

Googler

Hi @PeterH. If you find a review or photo that you think violates our 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 our policies (https://goo.gl/dsVNTC, https://goo.gl/G87xzJ) 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) 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.

 

@LucioV We do try our best to see all posts (usually all we're tagged in are seen) but always best to tag a Google moderator


Note: 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!.
Googler

P.S. I've already responded to @PeterH on another thread. Peter, I recommend posting just once to help keep Connect organized. Someone will help you, promise! 


Note: 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 3

Is this an auto response @TraciC@? I have already written twice that I want to report a person. So yes please send me a private message so I can do that. They have written over 70 reviews so I cant flag each one of them. 

 

Cheers

 

Ps. Google you need to sort out a better reporting system this is ridiculous. 


@TraciC wrote:

@PeterH If you find a review or photo that you think violates our 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 our policies (https://goo.gl/dsVNTC, https://goo.gl/G87xzJ) 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) 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.


 

Level 3

The reason why I posted multiple times is because I still havent had anyone priv message me about this but I have had autoresponses saying "if you want to report then get a mod to priv message you" even though I clearly said I didnt want to flag ONE review but I want to report a reviewer....

 

From my perspective it isn't in my interest to spend hours trying to report something while wading through endless forums and auto generated responses... 


Here's an excerpt from a review.... and there are over 70 more like this that the person has posted.... discrediting insurance companies, law firms, some a threatening and most abusive... Happy to just leave things and not even worry about it but I thought maybe this wasnt the kind of stuff google would want to be associated with?

 

<REDACTED>

 

Level 3

Thank you! 

Googler

No, it's not an automated response, @PeterH. 🙂 This is an often-asked question here and as you asked twice, I responded the same answer on both posts (your other post) in hopes that the next person who has a question may see it and the information is helpful to them. A private message was sent to you five hours with instructions on how to proceed. 


Note: 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 3

Hi Traci thanks for that! Just want to check if you mean that I had received a private message here in Google Guides Connect, because if so I haven't got it yet? 

 

 

google.JPG

Level 10

@PeterH here i think you will never find "automated responses"; anyone try to do it's best to be helpful 😉

I'm also struggling with spammers...

Level 5

@PeterH,

That is disgusting but not totally surprising mate.I ran into some terrible racist chants on Google maps reviews not long ago about American Red Indians who live near a new casino site in southern California.There were a stack of really bad racist reviews.I have also seen racist reviews posted on Google maps back in my home town Brisbane,Australia about the local aborigines hanging out at certain pubs.I have flagged them whenever I spot them but I have no idea if they were removed.Such is life!

 

Cheers,

Zed star.

 

Level 3

Good to know I am not the only one struggling with it. Really keen to ensure there is a more easy system to get things like this taken down and to be able to report guides rather than just "Flag" reviews.... Or the Guide system as a whole will lose credibility due to a few bad apples. 

 

70 odd reviews like this, I'm actually at the point where I am worried this person may cause hostile actions towards these companies. I'd hate to see a physical repercussion from this individual in the wake of these reviews and feel like I knew about it, and did nothing to stop it. 

 

Level 5

@PeterH,

With all due respect I don't struggle with it mate.....I just deal with it and move on.This sort of thing is still everywhere..on the streets in our faces and wherever there are forums that haters can hide behind.I'm sure Google maps is even more upset about such things than you are but they are smart enough to work out a universal solution eventually.

May the google be with you.

 

Cheers,

Zed star.

 

Level 3

Yeah true, I'll do what I can and hope that is enough and that others including Google do the same! 

 

Cheers! 

Level 5

@TraciC,

There are very inappropriate reviews everywhere even for the Googleplex.Here are just two I found within seconds.....and flagged.

 

 

Cheers,

Zed star.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Screen Shot 2017-03-20 at 4.13.06 PM.png

 

 

Screen Shot 2017-03-20 at 4.12.51 PM.png

Level 5

@PeterH,

Great idea mate!......so you can move on and do real positive stuff on Google maps.......good Karma.

 

 

Cheers,

Zed star.

Level 2

Hi there,

I would like to report 'Bo Hao' who has 200 1-star reviews but says good things and grabs pictures from the web.

It is obviously a bot.

please remove his reviews as they are hurting local businesses.

best

Stanley

Level 5

@StanleyW,

Hi mate...so have you flagged them as spam yet? If you have and they are still there then you should contact one of the top moderators such as TraciC or SamsonF ..they will know the procedure to eliminate the spammer.  

Keep up the good work.

 

 

Cheers,

Zed star

 

 

 

Level 1

@Corrie I want to report large scale review spam in the maps portion of Google.  I cannot report each one of the reviews on all of the review profiles it would take me weeks.  If you would pleae have someone reach out to me so I can simply report the reviewers, that would be amazing.  There are dozens if not hundreds of them.  

 

 

 

   

Level 9
Level 9

Best to tag a Google Mod or you may be waiting a while for contact https://www.localguidesconnect.com/t5/Using-the-Forums/Meet-the-Google-Moderators/m-p/88603#M72

Level 1

Thanks Phillip, I actually forgot to do so.  Darn spammers, are a pain.  Thanks again, I really appreciate pointing out the oversight.

Level 9
Level 9

@KyleP you are right, spammers are a real problem and the lack of easy reporting facility makes it worse

 

Btw you'll notice in my reply, where I have tagged you, the @ is part of the hyperlink. I think you'll need to edit the tag in your post for it to alert Luis

Googler

Hi @KyleP. Our process is as follows: If you find a review or photo that you think violates our 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 our policies (https://goo.gl/dsVNTC, https://goo.gl/G87xzJ) 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 (https://goo.gl/8kKcCB) 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.

 

It looks like you've already been in touch with the team privately so someone will be in touch. 


Note: 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 3

Hi guys! Hope you are all good, I'm still keen to send the link with the user name to someone so they can take appropriate action, haven't had a priv message from anyone yet, just keen to know how long it usually takes before I get one? 

 

As noted earlier there are way too many fake/harmful reviews from the user to flag them all. I'd prefer to report the person. 

 

Thank you! 

 

Peter 

 

@TraciC @LucioV

Level 5

@PeterH,

Hang in there mate....sometimes there can be a log jam of things to address...your spam issue is extremely important to all us hard working local guides.The Google maps gurus will no doubt be helping you with this problem soon.Keep smiling and doing great things.

 

Cheers,

Zed star.

Googler

@PeterH Just saw your earlier response and wanted you to know that I sent you a private message on Monday at 10:22am and didn't see any subsequent responses here on Connect as I wasn't tagged. I also removed the post you pasted here as while you were pasting something from Maps as an example, it's not the sort of content we want here on Connect (nor on Maps). The team reviews all spam reports and looks at a number of factors prior to removing, though it does sometimes take time to be sure we're adhering to all policies.

 

@Zeds Thanks for flagging those reviews and for tagging me in to see. You can always tag in any Google Moderator on notifications but when it's a one-off review (or two) like that, best to flag the review and tag us in if there is a Local Guide who has a bunch of spam. Thank you! 


Note: 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 3

@TraciC okay can you please send me a private message again? I have no private messages showing in my inbox? 

All good with deleting that previous post I dont want to see that kind of thing anywhere either. 

 

Level 3

@TraciC, I've come across a local guide with numerous out-of-context photos and suspicious reviews. For example, this person has reviewed the Portuguese service of immigration and border control (SEF - Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras) with "Bien claaaro" and illustrated it with two photos - one of a plate of shrimp and another of a dummy cow. 

Please let me know how to proceed!

 

Googler

@JorgePascoal I noted our process above. I will send you a private message with next steps. 


Note: 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 4

@TraciC 

 

I also have a local spammer that I would like to report.

 

Thanks

Googler

Hi @NikM. I'll send you a private message with details. Thank you. 


Note: 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 7

@TraciC I want to report local guide spammers, please inform me how to submit details. Thanks

Googler

@leonovep  Our process is as follows: If you find a review or photo that you think violates our 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 our policies (https://goo.gl/dsVNTC, https://goo.gl/G87xzJ) 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 (https://goo.gl/8kKcCB) 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'll send you a private message.

 

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.


Note: 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!.

hi,I read we could ask questions.First my name is Pamela and I am still getting the hang of things.I hope this finds you well. Can you tell me what spamming reviews are?I am assuming it's being personal and taking your experience and using it to get back at the store?I deleted a review because I was not happy with the management and his ethical standards and I couldn't write the review without saying something about the establishment.And I could not recommend this place under my name.I didn't want to look bad.Is that right.I had no plans of being outright ignorant and the truth would have sufficed but I decided I had to let it go.But had someone for example,put the establishment down and even added to it? Or is it,a fake review? Thank you in advance 

Level 7

Hi @WaweruM

 

LG's posting  pics / adding places can be reviewed by G team, but i reviews  also . They may miss in order to file appropriate review . If you found a review is in appropriate


@WaweruM wrote:

How can i report the local guides who are spamming reviews?



you can flag as it .

Also the best thing you can mail to Local-guide official mails also here we have our moderators you can ping them.

 

Thanks,

Sandeep

 

Level 8

I have found in maps several establishments where they do not have a website. Taking advantage of this I have also found that unrelated website URLs bieng published to some of Google Map addresses. 

 

An example: A local restaurant in Maldives  has a website url listed which is completely unrelated to them. An Arabic affiliate hotel / airline booking website is listed under this restaurant. 

If you try to edit and if the restaurant doesn't have their own website there is no way to correct this, report this or leave the web url field blank. 

 

How do we solve this issue?

 

Thank You - Badr'