Google search for a local restaurant returns scammer’s ad as top result • Hacker News Board

Re: Google search for a local restaurant returns scammer’s ad as top result

#151

Post by dvngnt_ » Fri, Feb 24, 2023, 2:38 PM UTC

Same thing for many crypto services. Never use google search without adblock. The FBI was right

Re: Google search for a local restaurant returns scammer’s ad as top result

#152

Post by curiousllama » Fri, Feb 24, 2023, 2:46 PM UTC

vorpalhex wrote: post #150

perihelions wrote: post #59

Simple legislative fix: entitle the victim (small business) to quickly and easily claim a trademark infringement on an ad, and claw back 100% of Google's revenue on that ad. And let Google be civilly liable, if they choose to contest such a trademark claim and they're in the wrong. Inspired by YouTube's DMCA claim system (or my superficial understanding of it). If there's a "bug bounty" on fraud, there will be an ent…

If a real and thorny problem seems to have a trivial answer.. there's a good chance the trivial answer is incorrect. Amazon has a system like this, where you can "claim" listings. It's how scam products get all those five star reviews for some other profuct. They find a t-shirt or some little thing doing well and file claim after claim until they win the listing.

Yea, this is the answer. If it’s easy to file a complaint, scammers will just file a million complaints to (wrongly) win 1%, and walk away with the $

Re: Google search for a local restaurant returns scammer’s ad as top result

#153

Post by Cenk » Fri, Feb 24, 2023, 2:47 PM UTC

bityard wrote: post #64

In Google maps, the top result for a locksmith in my city is a company that doesn't actually exist. The company has no website, just a toll-free number. The business name doesn't match anything in the state records. If you zoom in, the address given is literally in some kind of alley. The business has 4.5 stars and all of the reviews are in vague, broken English that never contain any details about the service or why…

The “Reply All” podcast had an episode about this: https://gimletmedia.com/shows/reply-all/o2ho87

Re: Google search for a local restaurant returns scammer’s ad as top result

#154

Post by VLM » Fri, Feb 24, 2023, 2:53 PM UTC

The problem with trademarks and marketing slogans is "kiin thai" more or less translates to "come here to eat thai" more or less. I think the problem with most of the discussion about this "event" is most of the people with strong opinions seem to think "Kiin" is some dude's last name or a dish or a city name or something.

It would be like trying to trademark and lawyer up the phrase "Food Store" or the word "Burger" in the USA.

Re: Google search for a local restaurant returns scammer’s ad as top result

#155

Post by MichaelZuo » Fri, Feb 24, 2023, 2:58 PM UTC

_nalply wrote: post #62

antihero wrote: post #32

I’m just amazed Cory Doctorow of all people doesn’t use uBlock and got duped by this. I’ve always seen Google Ads as about as reliable as the fake download buttons on crappy file websites. You tune them out or block them.

We shouldn't need to use uBlock. It is easy to assign blame to victims. This has happened to bycicle owners. If you don't lock your bike it's your fault your bike gets stolen. But theft is illegal. Theft is if someone wants to take something that doesn't belong to him and then executes the taking. Locks don't change this fact. It just makes the execution of the crime more difficult. I have a vision of an utopia where…

To catch all bicycle thieves, everywhere, at all times, would require 24/7 worldwide surveillance of every square meter on Earth. Do you really desire this?

Re: Google search for a local restaurant returns scammer’s ad as top result

#156

Post by mattigames » Fri, Feb 24, 2023, 3:17 PM UTC

VLM wrote: post #154

The problem with trademarks and marketing slogans is "kiin thai" more or less translates to "come here to eat thai" more or less. I think the problem with most of the discussion about this "event" is most of the people with strong opinions seem to think "Kiin" is some dude's last name or a dish or a city name or something. It would be like trying to trademark and lawyer up the phrase "Food Store" or the word "Burger"…

Not really, by being a word used on a different country where they don't speak the language there is no space for confusion, it would be like trademarking "yonggan" in USA and saying that it is invalid because it means "bravery" in Chinese.

Re: Google search for a local restaurant returns scammer’s ad as top result

#157

Post by ncallaway » Fri, Feb 24, 2023, 3:20 PM UTC

aembleton wrote: post #142

aikinai wrote: post #121

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I disagree that it’s a scam to advertise over someone else’s name as long as it’s clear and you’re not trying to confuse the user. I’ve found better alternatives than what I was looking for through competitor ads. I’ve had this happen on Google and the App Store and I appreciate it. It gives newer, or less well-known, companies a chance to gain exposure. And consumers like me might learn about a superior option they…

> as long as it’s clear and you’re not trying to confuse the user. Fair enough, but a lot of them are trying to confuse the customer, as Cory Doctorow found

Yea, I think it should be allowed to advertise in another brand, but it should draw heightened scrutiny.

If the ad at all appears to originate from the company that is the target of the ad keyword it should be rejected or require verification that it’s from the company.

Google could even charge a $10 “review fee” for ads placed directly on competitors keywords (per ad treatment, not per ad treatment per keyword) to discourage this behavior from scammers

Re: Google search for a local restaurant returns scammer’s ad as top result

#158

Post by thiht » Fri, Feb 24, 2023, 3:21 PM UTC

Don't people use adblockers anymore? I swear there was a time where EVERYONE used one, what happened? And why are there now people that seem to actively avoid adblockers?

This is one of the reasons why I don't want to see ANY ads. I don't care if an ad doesn't track me, I don't want to see it because it can still be harmful.