Do Not fall for false ownership requests regarding your Google Business Profile
Google Business Profiles are available for owners or managers of businesses in Google Maps and Google Search. If a person claims ownership of a Google Business Profile Listing, and the business has been claimed by another party, they will receive an email asking them if they approve or deny their new ownership request.
Fake claims on the rise Some in the local SEO community claim that there have been more fraudulent requests to claim ownership of business listings. Ben Fisher asked, “I’m seeing a lot of hijacker requests for owner requests. Are you all seeing the exact same?”
In fact, there were other SEOs who saw similar results in the forums. These are just a few of the responses.
- “I saw quite some, maybe three weeks ago (for a couple weeks), but the requests for my services have drastically declined.”
- “Last week, I received 5 scam requests from the exact same person!” I used to get only 3 per month, but recently I have noticed an increase in the number of scam requests.
Be careful. Be wary of fake ownership claims and verify that the claimant is the owner or manager of your business. It is better to decline an offer than to accept it if you are not sure. The wrong person can access your business listing and remove or modify your website, phone number, or even worse.
Why we care. Online fraud is rampant, particularly with Google Search and Google Maps. It is important to be aware of scams so you don’t fall for them. Keep an eye on your business listings to ensure that the information is accurate and up-to-date. Never give your Google Business Profile access to anyone you don’t know or trust.
Search Engine Land first published the post Do not fall for fake ownership requests regarding your Google Business Profile.