Google Sues Scammers Behind 10,000 Fake Business Listings on Google Maps

Google is filing a lawsuit against alleged scammers who created over 10,000 fake businesses and illegitimate listings on Google Maps.

According to a CBS News’ exclusive, Google revealed that malicious actors created and sold multiple fake business profiles registered on Google Maps.

Google’s investigation revealed that scammers have built a worldwide network to collaborate and use social media to reach wider audiences.

Halimah DeLaine Prado, Google’s general counsel, explained on CBS Mornings Plus that one of the cases was from an unlicensed locksmith acting as another business in Texas on Google Maps. Scammers would pretend to be the professional business, charging the client a significantly higher price for the service.

The real company alerted Google about the fraud and the tech giant started an investigation to discover—and eliminate—over 10,000 fake listings.

“Once we’re alerted to the actual fraud, we take extreme efforts to identify similar fraudulent listings,” said DeLaine Prado. “Scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated.”

Another strategy used by malicious actors was to hack real businesses’ phone numbers to redirect customers to another line where scammers would ask for money in advance through wire transfers or other unconventional payment methods like gift cards.

Google also discovered scammer networks that created profiles to generate fake positive reviews for businesses on Google Maps, as this is a relevant criterion for potential clients.

“Consumers use the reviews under those listings to actually make decisions based on what service to use or not to use,” said DeLaine Prado. “A fake profile and a fake review undermines the trust that you have in that ecosystem.”

Many of the scams unveiled focused on companies that solve emergencies or urgent situations such as towing or locksmith companies.

DeLaine Prado recommended Google Maps users verify the legitimacy of the business before reaching out. If something seems off, the best thing to do is to pause and acknowledge the red flags such as a URL not matching the business name or a company requesting too much information—like a social security number.

It’s not the first time Google filed lawsuits against scammers, or revealed fake accounts. In 2023 the company blocked around 12 million fake business profiles.

A few months ago, Google added new AI-powered features to Google Maps to suggest activities, and places to visit while traveling, as well as curated suggestions in the United States.