Need Insights and suggestions for Competitor GBP Listing.

[Sam M]

Hi GBP Experts,


I have come across a situation that seems unusual and would appreciate your guidance.


One of my clients recently shared information about a competitor in the roofing industry who appears to be operating multiple Google Business Profiles using questionable addresses. The client provided evidence including photos, videos, street signage, and screenshots from Google Maps directions for these locations.


According to my client, this competitor has created more than 50 Google Business Profiles. Many of the listed addresses appear to be random locations. Some are residential properties and others appear to be commercial buildings, yet the profiles are listed as storefront businesses. After checking several of these addresses myself, they do not appear to be legitimate business locations.


Another unusual detail is that all of these profiles use the same website. Each listing links to a location based landing page, but it ultimately redirects to the same homepage.


There is another interesting pattern as well. The competitor is using different business names based on metropolitan city names. For example, names such as XYZ Roofing Chicago or JKP Roofing Chicago. Despite the different names, all profiles point to the same website.


To verify this, my client even asked employees to visit several of these locations and collect evidence. In many cases they confirmed that the business does not exist at the address, the location is residential, or there is no signage indicating a roofing company.


I understand that the Business Redressal Complaint Form can be used to report guideline violations. However, since there are more than 50 listings involved, I am unsure about the most effective way to report this situation.


Based on the evidence, it appears the competitor may have created these profiles primarily to generate leads and outrank other roofing companies in the area.


What would be the best approach to report and address this issue?


Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.


Thank you.

 

[Glass]

This was very common. I remember finding a lot of businesses or sometimes referral companies setting up dozens if not hundreds of GMB profiles using a random address and a fictitious unit number. That address had no unit numbers and the business or out of state referral company had no association with the address.

In the past I would list out all of them in a spreadsheet and submit that spreadsheet to the redressal form. But I stopped doing it a few years ago because it seemed like the redressal form became worthless.