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A large network of fake Google Maps comments/reviews and fake businesses

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Re: A large network of fake Google Maps comments/reviews and fake businesses

#101

Post by 7to2 »

I think society will eventually be forced to adopt the broker model often featured in dystopian media. People will no longer trust big corporations and instead refer to local fixers and information brokers to get the information they need (for a fee of course).

"Need a real plumber? Well here's a good one for 5$. A competent lawyer? 50$ and I'll tell you."

The sad thing is that big corporations won't fix this problem unless they are allowed to fully compromise everyone's privacy. The can solve it in another way, but they won't. This is a people problem and requires people solutions (Governments).

Re: A large network of fake Google Maps comments/reviews and fake businesses

#102

Post by pifm_guy »

troydavis wrote: post #44
TheCaptain4815 wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Getting an address = potentially thousands if not tens of thousands of dollars in profit. Being creative on how you attain addresses is one of the main criteria for this business model. One unique method is working exclusively with a local plumber, electrician, etc and HAVING THEM get you the addresses while you retain control of the GBP entity and sell them the leads. The pitch goes like "you've seen the success I'v…

Thank you. That makes sense for a lot of cases. I saw some business names that had 50+ locations in one city, but I guess given enough motivation, that can be done. Related: I submitted edits for some of the businesses (marking them "Doesn't exist") and Google rejected the edits. My Maps contribution history says "NOT APPLIED - Google couldn't verify your edit" for a long list of fake businesses. If that's how they p…

The 'fixing up mistakes in the map' team is quite separate from the anti-spam team.

Using volunteer reports for anti-spam doesn't work because the spammers play a numbers game, and perhaps only 10% will be reported by a good citizen like you.

Re: A large network of fake Google Maps comments/reviews and fake businesses

#103

Post by ornornor »

troydavis wrote: post #2

95% of the 100+ comments on this business are fake, presumably from a comment/review farm that was paid by the business owner (though I don't know that). The same commenters - some of which Google Maps describes as "Local Guides" - also have commented on dozens or hundreds of businesses that don't exist at all. The fake business entries are basically using Google Maps place locations for SEO and presumably, referral…

> Google Maps doesn't have a way to report an entire account as a bot; one can only flag a specific comment.

I had been leaving reviews for about a decade on a number of businesses I interacted with.

Some were pretty bad and I had extensive reviews with photos etc. The most egregious was a hotel in Lisbon where all the fire extinguishers were empty (with pictures).

One day I got an email from google maps that one of my reviews had been reported and flagged, and that they removed all my reviews ever and disabled my ability to post reviews.

To this day, I have no way to reverse the decision, or even find out which review was reported and flagged. I can’t leave new reviews anymore, can’t talk to anyone at google about it (of course), and all my reviews have indeed been taken down (verified by going to places I remember reviewing and not seeing my review anymore when not logged in)

On one hand I feel it’s google’s loss for their own idiocy and blind automation, but on the other I feel like it’s just letting the scammy businesses win: just report reviews you don’t like and they’ll get taken away making your scammy business have only 5 star reviews.

Re: A large network of fake Google Maps comments/reviews and fake businesses

#104

Post by kube-system »

computerex wrote: post #96
bryceacc wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

get AAA, and also credit card over the phone? I would have stopped there

AAA has been utterly useless. In the past 2 times I needed a tow, they couldn't arrange one in a timely manner, with lots of delays and miscommunications.

Years ago AAA was good. But the few times I’ve used them over the past decade, it has been a PITA every time.

Re: A large network of fake Google Maps comments/reviews and fake businesses

#105

Post by citizenpaul »

twelve40 wrote: post #64

I recently ran into fake business on doordash of all places. I was in a hurry and ordered without reading too much. An hour and a half later canceled with a full refund from DD. Got curious and drove to the listed restaurant in person, it turned out to be some bank building. So it wasn't even a duplicate or impostor, it never existed. Since I got my money back, I'm assuming they are trying to scam doordash itself...

>doordash of all places

Doordash is into extremely sketchy territory. Here is a good link if you want to know more.also read the top rated comment from former grubhub executive.

https://www.readmargins.com/p/doordash-and-pizza-arbitrage

Re: A large network of fake Google Maps comments/reviews and fake businesses

#106

Post by encryptluks2 »

ornornor wrote: post #103
troydavis wrote: post #2

95% of the 100+ comments on this business are fake, presumably from a comment/review farm that was paid by the business owner (though I don't know that). The same commenters - some of which Google Maps describes as "Local Guides" - also have commented on dozens or hundreds of businesses that don't exist at all. The fake business entries are basically using Google Maps place locations for SEO and presumably, referral…

> Google Maps doesn't have a way to report an entire account as a bot; one can only flag a specific comment. I had been leaving reviews for about a decade on a number of businesses I interacted with. Some were pretty bad and I had extensive reviews with photos etc. The most egregious was a hotel in Lisbon where all the fire extinguishers were empty (with pictures). One day I got an email from google maps that one of…

I wouldn't put it past a Google employee to be involved in a scheme where they paid to have your review removed.

Re: A large network of fake Google Maps comments/reviews and fake businesses

#107

Post by ornornor »

encryptluks2 wrote: post #106
ornornor wrote: post #103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Google Maps doesn't have a way to report an entire account as a bot; one can only flag a specific comment. I had been leaving reviews for about a decade on a number of businesses I interacted with. Some were pretty bad and I had extensive reviews with photos etc. The most egregious was a hotel in Lisbon where all the fire extinguishers were empty (with pictures). One day I got an email from google maps that one of…

I wouldn't put it past a Google employee to be involved in a scheme where they paid to have your review removed.

Considering the ethics of some of the businesses I reviewed, I wouldn’t be surprised either.

Re: A large network of fake Google Maps comments/reviews and fake businesses

#108

Post by bandyaboot »

I’ve run into this when looking for an hvac contractor to do some work in my basement. Was just going through the listings and making a bunch of calls. It was definitely annoying encountering all the fake “store fronts”, but I also found that just by talking to them and asking a couple questions, it was super obvious which ones were fake and which ones were legit.

Re: A large network of fake Google Maps comments/reviews and fake businesses

#109

Post by urbandw311er »

anamexis wrote: post #43
TheCaptain4815 wrote: post #6

My time to shine as someone who's pretty deep in this game. There's an enormous and growing market of fake GBPs for the purpose of selling leads called Local SEO Lead Gen. (each entity can bring in thousands of dollars/month.) The thinking is why go through the headache of dealing with clients who can fire you the day after they begin ranking (Local SEO is heavily "front loaded" work wise), will always try undercutti…

> Oh and the real masters of this business model? Well they don't bother SELLING the leads to contractors, they will quite literally start their own company and will hire their own plumbers, electricians, concrete crews, etc to squeeze as much profit as possible. Now, this part is funny. It's come full circle to a legitimate business. (Kind of)

This was my thinking too!

It’s less shady and more a simple reinvention of the marketplace model.

The shady bit is the fake reviews and also an element of “fake it til you make it”

So they’ve also reinvented the trad VC-backed business model!

Re: A large network of fake Google Maps comments/reviews and fake businesses

#110

Post by tomcam »

SteveGerencser wrote: post #61
TheCaptain4815 wrote: post #6

My time to shine as someone who's pretty deep in this game. There's an enormous and growing market of fake GBPs for the purpose of selling leads called Local SEO Lead Gen. (each entity can bring in thousands of dollars/month.) The thinking is why go through the headache of dealing with clients who can fire you the day after they begin ranking (Local SEO is heavily "front loaded" work wise), will always try undercutti…

What baffles me is how these networks flourish so easily yet Google can't tell a real business from a fake. The number of people calling me lately (I'm in the same business) about the Business Profile being removed by Google. Even active retail shops that have had their account for many years, with a clearly visibly business on Google maps. Their GBP simply vanishes and in a few cases, the only solution was to simply…

How can they start over with a new profile? It seems to me they would have to either move or get a new business name? I’m not trying to bust your chops. I am genuinely interested in this whole thing.
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