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How to Report Google My Business Spam (2020)

published: 17 October, 2019 · updated: 9 April, 2021

Quick Links
  • How to Detect & Tell Google about Fake Listings
  • Examples of Google My Business Spam
  • Important Notes about Other Spam Types

How to Detect & Tell Google about Fake Listings

Google does admit a percentage of business listings on Google Maps are not legit, and provides a few different tools you can use to report problems or recommend Google fix them.

The Google Maps system ebbs and flows with how badly the fraudulent listings fill the map. As well, differing industries seem to be more inclined to large scale maps cheating than others. So if you’re wanting to join the army to help fight spam, we would love to have you on board. Here you’ll find a series of articles, tools, links and more, giving you the resources and guidance to report fake listings on your own.

By reporting fake listings to Google, you’ll be helping your business, your friend’s business, or other customers get accurate information about real businesses in their local area.

Examples of Google My Business Spam

These images show a variety of fake / spammy Google My Business listings.

Duplicate listings on Google Maps
duplicate listing
intentional duplicate listings
duplicate listings
locksmith spam
locksmith spam – multiple listings by one business, fake business names
spammer hijacked a listing
spammer hijacked a listing
name and address keyword stuffing
name and address keyword stuffing
keyword stuffed name
badly keyword stuffed name
spam on Google Maps
pin in entirely the wrong location. this was part of a national network of spam listings
near me phrase maps spam
“near me” search spam listings.
invalid location & address spam
invalid location & address spam

Our guide takes a different format to a standard blogpost – we’ve created a public Trello board to view or make a copy for yourself. It’s full of hows, where’s and tips for doing the research needed for Google to process your request.

Trello Board
see also: Walkthrough – Investigating Google Maps Spam (with examples)

Important Notes about Other Spam Types

keyword stuffed name

Business name keyword stuffing spam

Do not use the business redressal form for reporting keyword name stuffing.

Instead, use the “suggest an edit” button or link directly on the listing.

Fake Reviews

 Do not use the Business Redressal form for reporting suspected fake reviews.

Instead, use the social media channels or the GMB Community Forum to report fake reviews

Pages: Page 1 Page 2 Page 3

group: Featured tags: Guides, Spam

About margaret ornsby

I have been working with local businesses as a Local SEO specialist since 2010 and as a Google My Business Product Expert (formerly called Top Contributor) since 2016. I write about GMB suitable for most folks, business owners included.

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