UK Shuts Down Company Impersonating Google Over Local Listings

Aug 10, 2017 - 8:34 am 13 by
Filed Under Google Maps

Google Impersonator

I hate it, and I am sure hate it also, when someone calls you and claims they are Google. It happens fairly often, espesially around Google My Business local listings. It is nothing new and it seems like Google can't do anything to stop it. These companies call unsuspecting businesses, claim they are from Google, and threaten that their local listing will be removed if they don't pay up.

Well, the UK's Insolvency Service, a government agency in the UK, shut down one such firm doing this practice in the UK. The BBC reports the government agency said this specific firm they shut down did the following:

  • falsely implied that it represented or was affiliated to Google when speaking to clients
  • falsely implied they would lose their listings if they failed to pay it
  • failed to make clear its contracts auto-renewed after a 12-month period
  • used "offensive and threatening" debt collection methods

Sound familiar?

I just wish there was a faster way to close down these firms.

Forum discussion at WebmasterWorld.

 

Popular Categories

The Pulse of the search community

Search Video Recaps

 
- YouTube
Video Details More Videos Subscribe to Videos

Most Recent Articles

Search Forum Recap

Daily Search Forum Recap: April 29, 2025

Apr 29, 2025 - 10:00 am
Other Search Engines

ChatGPT Search Gains Shopping Search Features (Not Ads) & More

Apr 29, 2025 - 7:51 am
Google Search Engine Optimization

Google: Changing Lastmod Date In Sitemap Isn't An SEO Hack

Apr 29, 2025 - 7:41 am
Bing Search

Bing Tests New AI Answer Summary

Apr 29, 2025 - 7:31 am
Google Ads

Google Tests New Shopping Ads Design

Apr 29, 2025 - 7:21 am
Bing Search

Bing Search Without Microsoft Name By Logo

Apr 29, 2025 - 7:11 am
Previous Story: Google My Business Action URLs For Online Orders, Reservations & More