Need Help Battling Fake Google Business Profiles and Lead Gen Scams in the Chimney Industry

[aaronb]

Hey everyone,
I work for an agency that isin the chimney service industry, and lately, Our company and other industry related marketing companies have been dealing with a surge of fake Google Business Profiles (GBPs) and shady lead-generation ads that are really hurting the visibility and business of legitimate companies in these locations. We have tried to stay on top of it, but these scammers are persistent, and it’s getting harder to stand out in local searches.

Here’s a breakdown of what’s going on:

1. Fake GBPs: Competitors or scam businesses are creating fake listings in many areas ( Houston, Boston, Nashville, to name a few) using:
   
   • Fake locations (e.g., UPS stores, coworking spaces, or random street corners).
   • Keyword-stuffed names (e.g., “Best Chimney Sweep Near You” instead of the actual business name).
   • Multiple duplicate listings (same business flooding the map with several profiles).
   • Profile sabotage (e.g., incorrect hours, phone numbers, or categories changed by others).
2. Lead Gen Scams in Google Ads: We've also noticed fake ads running under names like “24/7 Chimney Pros” or “Chimney Deals Near Me” that aren’t actual businesses. They’re lead brokers who collect homeowner info and sell it to contractors, driving up costs for everyone and confusing customers.

We have been trying to keep clients Google Business Profile's up-to-date, report fake listings, and educate customers about the scams, but it’s so big this time is impossible to keep up. I’m looking for advice on:

• How to effectively report and get rid of fake GBPs on such a large scale?
• Best practices for dealing with lead gen scams in Google Ads and Local Services Ads (LSAs).
• Tips on how to keep our clients profiles more visible and stay competitive without getting caught up in the race to the bottom with these scammers.

If anyone has dealt with this, I’d love to hear your tips and strategies. Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

 

[aaronb]

Hey everyone,
I work for an agency that isin the chimney service industry, and lately, Our company and other industry related marketing companies have been dealing with a surge of fake Google Business Profiles (GBPs) and shady lead-generation ads that are really hurting the visibility and business of legitimate companies in these locations. We have tried to stay on top of it, but these scammers are persistent, and it’s getting harder to stand out in local searches.

Here’s a breakdown of what’s going on:

1. Fake GBPs: Competitors or scam businesses are creating fake listings in many areas ( Houston, Boston, Nashville, to name a few) using:
   • Fake locations (e.g., UPS stores, coworking spaces, or random street corners).
   • Keyword-stuffed names (e.g., “Best Chimney Sweep Near You” instead of the actual business name).
   • Multiple duplicate listings (same business flooding the map with several profiles).
   • Profile sabotage (e.g., incorrect hours, phone numbers, or categories changed by others).
2. Lead Gen Scams in Google Ads: We've also noticed fake ads running under names like “24/7 Chimney Pros” or “Chimney Deals Near Me” that aren’t actual businesses. They’re lead brokers who collect homeowner info and sell it to contractors, driving up costs for everyone and confusing customers.

We have been trying to keep clients Google Business Profile's up-to-date, report fake listings, and educate customers about the scams, but it’s so big this time is impossible to keep up. I’m looking for advice on:

• How to effectively report and get rid of fake GBPs on such a large scale?
• Best practices for dealing with lead gen scams in Google Ads and Local Services Ads (LSAs).
• Tips on how to keep our clients profiles more visible and stay competitive without getting caught up in the race to the bottom with these scammers.

If anyone has dealt with this, I’d love to hear your tips and strategies. Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

@keyserholiday

 

[keyserholiday]

@keyserholiday

Please email me at keyserholiday@gmail.com we can set up a time to talk