Be Aware: Potential Expensive Google Maps Deception - 10,000 Valid Warnings to Heed
Fresh Take:
📝 March 21, 2025 Update: A new chapter in Google's security saga, as the tech giant takes legal action against a massive crime syndicate behind a Google Maps scam that targeted thousands of businesses and user accounts. Let's dive in!
🛎️ Google Maps & the Big Scam:
Hey there, cybersecurity peeps! You'd think Google Maps is just about safely traversing the real world, but it's become a hot spot for online vultures too. Scammers have turned their sights on the popular mapping platform, and Google has confirmed their discovery of over 10,000 fake business listings and hacked accounts as part of an elaborate criminal operation. On the CBS Mornings Plus show on March 19, Google's General Counsel, Halimah DeLaine Prado, shared some insights on this escalating issue.
🗣️ What Halimah Had to Say:
Scammers, according to DeLaine Prado, are growing more cunning, and Google's investigation unveiled at least 10,000 deceptive listings through fake businesses and hacked accounts on Google Maps. Google has taken the step of suing the alleged mastermind behind this scheme, who operates within a broader criminal network creating and selling fraudulent Google Maps business profiles. DeLaine Prado emphasized that online business profiles are crucial for both businesses and consumers, highlighting the detrimental effects of false profiles on the trust users have in the Google Maps ecosystem.
🚧 How Scammers Operate:
Scammers rely on various tactics, ranging from creating phony profiles complete with fabricated reviews to be found in searches, to diverting legitimate business calls through lead generation services. The result? Consumers find themselves tied to untrustworthy businesses, overcharged by shady practices, or, even worse, squarely in the crosshairs of dangerous con artists.
✍️ Google's Take:
Google representative Halimah DeLaine Prado added, "Fake business listings are prohibited on Google Maps, and we use a balanced set of tools to protect both businesses and users." Google's legal action aims to send a clear message: impersonation schemes will not be tolerated.
🚫 Steering Clear of Google Maps Scams:
As always, users need to practice caution. Ensure that the credibility of any business that pops up in a Google Maps search matches a regular Google search and the official website of the company. If a business pushes for a quote that deviates from the initial figure given, take heed and look elsewhere. Be wary of MSIS - or "mantra should be never trust but always verify."
🔒 Staying Secure:
Apart from Google Maps, stay savvy to potential scams on other online platforms like Google Chrome, iPhone, Android, and Social Security accounts. Practice due diligence and ensure that any information shared is accurate and addresses only the matters at hand.
🔌 Sources:
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottschwebel/2025/03/19/google-files-lawsuit-against-fraudster-over-fake-business-listings-on-google-maps/?sh=62b2a4e025ba
- https://www.cbsnews.com/news/google-sues-man-over-fake-business-listings-on-google-maps/
- https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/google-maps-fake-listings-scam-scammer-arrested-b2019634.html
- https://www.cnet.com/news/google-sues-man-over-fake-reviews-on-google-maps/
- https://krebsonsecurity.com/2025/03/19/google-sues-man-over-fake-google-maps-listings/
- Worryingly, the Google Maps scam, involving fake business listings and impersonated accounts, has attracted the attention of Google, prompting legal action against the criminals involved.
- Due to the growing sophistication of these scammers, it's essential to exercise caution when dealing with businesses found on Google Maps, comparing their listings with information from regular Google searches and official websites to avoid potential fraud.
- Aside from the Google Maps scam, users should also be vigilant about potential impersonation schemes on other platforms like Gmail, staying informed about the latest vulnerabilities and common tactics used by cybercriminals.
