Here Is The Reason Why Google Maps Is So "Dangerous"

Saanvi Araav - Jul 02, 2019


Here Is The Reason Why Google Maps Is So "Dangerous"

Fake addresses and listings are a real problem now on Google Maps.

Every month there are thousands upon thousands of fake accounts go on in Google Maps. So currently, the platform is flooded with around 11 million fake phone numbers and listings that reroute us to competition businesses every day.

Those businesses that are not at the listed locations are the most prone of this type of scams. That includes car services, maintenance specialists, and contractors. This information is from a study of WSJ (Wall Street Journal), published last Thursday.

Google Maps In Car
Those businesses that are not at the listed locations are the most prone of this type of scams.

At Google, they refer to them internally with the name "duress verticals". Those are the companies that customers turn into in emergency situations without the time to check the credibility of that business.

Back in 2017, with a self-funded academic study, Google claims that only about 0.5% of searches are fake listings. However, another investigation of WSJ says otherwise.

Wall Street Journal's study

That study has found that 13 of the top 20 search results on Google listed fake addresses. Only two results were authentic businesses that compile to guidelines of Google. Typically, Google checks the legitimacy of a company by mailing them a postcard, emailing or calling them with a number code. Then the business' owner will input that code in a website of Google. But scammers could easily pass by that system with fake phone numbers and addresses. That has a significant effect on the customers and real businesses.

google maps interface
But scammers could easily pass by that system with fake phone numbers and addresses.

This report of WSJ released one day after the announcement of the search giant about allowing the businesses to customize their profiles more on Maps and search via its feature - My Business.

Google is working on it

Reportedly, Google says that it is the process of making new methods to report suspicious company profiles and allow users to report fraud activities via the  Business Redressal Complaint Form.

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