Google Local Pin Verification Scams Via Postal Mail?

Dec 18, 2014 - 8:31 am 4 by
Filed Under Google Maps

breaking inThere is an interesting response from Google's Jade Wang in a Google Business Help thread.

The issue was, a person received a verification code via snail mail from Google Business Local, in order to verify a business on Google Maps. But the issue was, it was made out to the person's name but the business was not hers. She said:

Received a Google notification with a verification code inside for a business I do not own. Has my full name and address on the front with the business name listed. Can't seem to find any help on the website and when I try to find a Google # to contact someone, it was me to input my email address. I do and it says it won't submit unless a valid email is submitted...no matter what email address I enter it says that so of course no phone # will show. Help please :)

Google's Jade Wang responded that she should disregard the information and if someone calls pretending to be from Google, to hang up on them. Jade wrote, "If you don't recognize the business name and did not request the postcard, please do not reveal the code/PIN on the postcard to anyone who asks -- even if they call pretending to be Google."

It seems like some folks are mailing these postcards to specific people who are not the business owners to get them to trick them into giving them the verification code, in order to hijack a listing?

Scary!

Forum discussion at Google Business Help.

Image credit to BigStockPhoto for breaking in

 

Popular Categories

The Pulse of the search community

Search Video Recaps

 
- YouTube
Video Details More Videos Subscribe to Videos

Most Recent Articles

Google

Google Search Broken - Not Serving New Content

Jun 12, 2025 - 9:20 pm
Search Forum Recap

Daily Search Forum Recap: June 12, 2025

Jun 12, 2025 - 10:00 am
Google Search Engine Optimization

Google Softens Its Stance On Automated Translation Using AI

Jun 12, 2025 - 7:51 am
Google Ads

Google Ads Policy Update: Individual Accounts Can Be Paused Over Manager Account Violations

Jun 12, 2025 - 7:41 am
Google Maps

Google Business Profiles Changes Add Updates To Posts

Jun 12, 2025 - 7:31 am
Google

Google Search Tests Stock Level Colors

Jun 12, 2025 - 7:21 am
Previous Story: Google Tests Images In Mobile Search Result Snippets