Google, the American tech giant, has discovered and removed over 10,000 fraudulent listings on Maps and uncovered a network of scammers selling fake business profiles and fake reviews. The company announced a legal action against the alleged perpetrators, with the goal of protecting users and honest businesses.
The alarm was raised in Texas after a report about an unlicensed locksmith posing as a legitimate company. What seemed like an isolated case turned out to be just the tip of the iceberg.
The investigation revealed an alarming phenomenon: numerous listings belonged to what are known as “coercion verticals.” These are services requested in emergency situations, such as hardware stores or roadside assistance, which, once contacted, turn individuals in distress into easy targets.
According to Halimah DeLaine Prado, General Counsel at Google, the fraud followed well-defined patterns. In some cases, consumers ended up contacting non-existent companies. In others, the phone number of an operational business was intercepted and redirected to the scammers, who then offered poor-quality services at exorbitant prices.
Google also discovered that behind these operations was a global organization, with accomplices scattered across different countries and a dense network of social media promotion. On Facebook groups, the sale of 5-star reviews was advertised, able to bypass the platform’s checks.
To avoid falling victim to these scams, the multinational recommends that users watch out for suspicious signs. Among the most common are unusual payment requests, such as gift cards or bank transfers, and overly invasive questions, such as asking for a social security number just to sign up for a mailing list.
DeLaine Prado advises verifying information and suggests that users check URLs and phone numbers to ensure the legitimacy of their contacts. She also emphasized that the presence of fake profiles and reviews risks undermining trust in the entire system.
Google is no stranger to such situations. In 2023, the company removed and blocked about 12 million fake business profiles, one million more than the previous year. Now, with this lawsuit, it aims to directly target the network of impostors and donate any potential compensation to organizations involved in the fight against fraud.
The tech giant promises an even tighter crackdown to protect the transparency of its platform and ensure a safe and reliable experience for internet users.
