Now the SPAM has moved to Google Guaranteed section

[Daniel L]

Hi Guys,

Here we go again, the spam listings have moved from the map pack and now all over Google Guaranteed.

Below is an example of 4 "businesses" that are all fake. Fake reviews, fake businesses, fake companies house registration, all owned by the same spam outfit.

How do we go about removing them?

Thanks,

Daniel

 

[Chris Barnard]

Yeah, it's ridiculously duplicitous by Google and injurious to legit business.

You can report them here - Report Misconduct or Abuse - Local Services Help and here - Report inappropriate or inaccurate content - Local Services Help

Mike Blumenthal at Near Media has more if you want more motivation: The Google Guarantee-LSA Scam in Home Services: A Marketer's Insight

 

[Daniel L]

@Chris Barnard - I 100% agree. All of their calls are being answered by an Indian call centre too.

Is there anyone else that can help push this within Google. Consumers are starting to loose faith in Google Guaranteed already.

 

[Chris Barnard]

As we are with AMZN too right? You're giving us a lot of credit.

Probably somewhere but I don't know of any, maybe someone in the Ads community can escalate if the noise becomes unavoidable.

IMO as with any spam fighting - if its not diminishing returns - we keep pounding and get on every soap box we can. I'm all for a G class action. PR connections could help amplify the issue too, where are all those hard-hitting investigative reporters when we need em.

 

[Daniel L]

@JoyHawkins - You've got to be able to escalate this issue. It amazes me they are still live, building 1,000's of fake reviews, have over 30+ different shell companies, completely destroying an industry and google is silent.

 

[Daniel L]

The above post has been seen by 20,000+ people but the issue continues

CAN ANYONE HELP?

They are all run by the same family called "Abbasi". They are currently creating around 100 fake reviews a day!

 

[Daniel L]

Sadly these fake LSA's are still live despite 50+ independent google reports.

How can these guys get away with this and what can we do to stop them?

Below is a sample of their scam...

GoGo Clean - Carpets & Upholstery Steam Clean Experts
https://g.co/kgs/owYKQB6

Mr Deep Carpet Cleaning & Upholstery LTD
https://g.co/kgs/2gtyCZk

DeepAlways -Carpets & Upholstery Steam Masters Pro Experts LTD 24/7
https://g.co/kgs/ZdtPR6S

 

[Daniel L]

Top 7 all spam with fake reviews.

 

[seowned]

Top 7 all spam with fake reviews.

yep, if you check my post history you will see the moving industry in the south east US has been like this all year. i just don't know how they are even doing it.

 

[Daniel L]

yep, if you check my post history you will see the moving industry in the south east US has been like this all year. i just don't know how they are even doing it.

There must be away of removing them. Google just doesn't seem to care.

 

[Daniel L]

Here's an update, google has removed most fake LSA reviews on the above profiles over the last few months. BUT they've left their GMB profiles live - so now they are rebuilding fake reviews on their GMB profiles.

Look at this one - Deep clean Experts · 30 Ash Walk, Wembley HA0 3QN, United Kingdom

Getting 20-30 reviews a day, 95% of them are from profiles originating from Pakistan and/or have reviewed another one of their GMB profiles.

Over 15 redressal forms by local business owners and still getting no traction. All reviews have been reported too.

What else can be done?

 

[Daniel L]

@keyserholiday

How is this GBP still live? it's laughable!

https://maps.app.goo.gl/7Rs8dYtviAAVQhpd6
They are using stock images on their reviews too now!

Making a mockery of Google and consumers. Needs to be suspended for good.

 

[Daniel L]

Even more fake reviews added - https://g.co/kgs/JdHqW3u

@keyserholiday - can we get this shut down yet?

Even the victims of the scam know it's full of fake reviews too.

This profile has had 40+ independent people report it via the redressal form and still its live!

Check the history of this reviewer - reveals the other scam companies too -

https://www.google.com/maps/contrib...=EgoyMDI1MDMxNi4wIKXMDSoJLDEwMjExNDUzSAFQAw==

 

[fisicx]

It it making money for Google? If so then there is no incentive for them to do anything.

Whilst I agree Google is getting worse as long as their shareholders are happy they aren't fussed about the millions of fake profiles and billions of fake reviews.

 

[Daniel L]

I honestly cannot believe these profiles are still live? @keyserholiday

 

[Daniel L]

All of the above Google profiles are still live and still creating fake reviews. Who can help remove them?

 

[Daniel L]

43,000 views on this post and still these scam companies are operating. Google must be making so much money from them, they just turn a blind eye.

 

[keyserholiday]

You can either DM me or send me an email at my handle at gmail dot com.

 

[Daniel L]

44,000 views!!!! And the spam is still live and getting worse.

It's disgusting really - check this one. Over 3,000 fake reviews and Google does nothing! https://share.google/zP2VARy0hVcLkcDju

 

[Daniel L]

I hired a google fraud investigator, on the above profiles and here's the findings -

4,722 distinct fraud indicators constituting clear google violations.

Key findings are as follows:

1. Cross-Profile Fake Reviewer Accounts394 instances were identified of the same reviewer accounts leaving reviews across multiple competing businesses in the same sector. This is virtually impossible through normal customer behaviour. For example, a reviewer named Mohammed Ali left reviews on 5 separate competing businesses including Deep Clean Experts Ltd, SteamX Services and Steam Clean Experts LTD. A further 19 named accounts were each found reviewing between 3 and 5 competing businesses in the same dataset.


2. Duplicate and Identical Review Content475 instances of identical or near-identical review text were found posted repeatedly across profiles. One profile alone had a single review text repeated 54 times. Another had the same text repeated 14 times. Genuine customers do not post word-for-word identical reviews. This indicates automated review generation tools or copy-paste review farms.


3. Mass Single-Review Accounts4,247 reviews were posted by accounts with only 1 review ever, strongly indicating accounts created solely for the purpose of leaving fake reviews.


4. Statistically Improbable Rating ConcentrationsMultiple profiles show five-star rating concentrations exceeding 90%, which combined with the above patterns is statistically improbable and consistent with artificial inflation.


QUESTION's - How are these profile's still live? Why hasn't google removed them after 50+ independent reports within the industry?

Can anyone help me progress this with Google?



CASE ID - 5-9537000041247