The bigger something is, the more "hitchhikers' that want to piggyback popularity. Apparently, many of them can be scammers.
Google is one giant of the web. As one of the most popular service the web has ever seen, there are plenty of scammers that claim to represent Google. What they do, is preying on small and medium-sized business (SMB) owners, asking them for payments or even threatening them.
From increasing website's ranking for a price, to charging on something that is actually free on Google.
"We continue to receive complaints from business owners about calls they receive claiming to be from Google. Often these calls are actually third-party companies who are trying to take advantage of them."
Previously, Google made a number of methods to stop these outrageous frauds, including filing lawsuits. But since those attempts didn't stop those scams from happening, Google steps up its effort with some additional initiative.
On May 23rd 2018, Bryan Solar who is the Product Lead of Google's SMB Market Development, said:
- Google is taking legal actions against Kydia Inc. d/b/a BeyondMenu, Point Break Media, LLC (and affiliated entities), and Supreme Marketing Group, Inc. d/b/a Small Business Solutions.
- Google has developed an automated and manual techniques to better identify Google accounts tied by scammers. With updated policies, Google hopes to be better in taking actions against them.
- There is a tool for SMB which allows owners to report scammy practices and policy violators.
- Google starts providing resources and educations for SMB through its Get Your Business Online program.
- Announcing Google My Business Partners program, which give business owners a directory of trusted partners to choose from when they need help in managing their listings.
"We’ll continue to take action against these scams and the companies behind them by evolving our products and systems to identify bad actors, making policy changes, making law enforcement referrals and taking legal action when possible," continued Solar on his blog post.
However, SMB owners should never depend solely on Google. Below are the things they can do to immediately protect themselves:
- Verify the person because scammers usually introduce themselves as something like: "Google specialist" or "calling about or on behalf of Google."
- Claim business for free using Google My Business. Owners that claimed their business are less likely to become targets by scammers.
- Google never ask payment to increase better ranking, since the ways to rank higher is by doing local targeting, SEO and many many more. No money is required.
- SMB owners can also report unwanted callers to Google, or just hang up the phone.
"Small businesses are a crucial part of our economy, and fraud shouldn’t get in the way of helping them grow," said Solar. "We’re committed to protecting our users and taking action to combat scams that take advantage of Google My Business."