Spam Help/Advice Needed

[rutkap]

Over a month ago I put in some notices about 4 "Chesterfield, MO" locations that either do not exist, have closed down, or are in a shared office space.

Since then, not only has my attempts to remove these spammy listings not been approved, THE PHOTOS I SENT TO PROVE THEIR VERACITY ARE NOW PART OF THEIR FAKE LISTINGS!!!!!

I am asking you, the Local SEO community for a hand in what I should do to escalate this issue. It is not fair and I have spent far too much time dealing with these listings.

attached are the 4 listings my client and I took the time to physically visit and obtain photographic evidence of their existance as well as a few choice photographs proving that they are non existant offices.

 

[Cherie Dickey]

Who did you send the photos to? Google support? How did you contact them?

Just an FYI, don't click the 2 nice guys website. I think it's been hacked.

 

[rutkap]

I sent the updates through maps.google.com

If there is a better way, please let me know.

 

[Cherie Dickey]

I would reach out to support directly in this case. I've found Twitter to be the most helpful. You can reach them at @GoogleMyBiz

If they are unable to help you, someone here should be able to escalate to the local advertisers forum...but Twitter is normally the first place I go.

Keep us posted!

 

[rutkap]

Thanks Cherie.

I for one have not had much success with Twitter, but I will elevate it there.

Heck, I may just send them this post!!!

 

[MeganR]

Yes, exactly! I had the same issue - - I could not believe that the photo I submitted was added to the business's fake listing and worse still, they were notified of the photo!

Everyone on the forum has me second-guessing myself that this doesn't happen with the redressability form, but rather with the in-listing submit an edit feature. Now, I'm not sure how I submitted - - using the form or the submit an edit feature.

Do you recall how you submitted the photographic evidence? Which method you used?

Here's the other thread where we've been having the debate:

Google suspension cause | Google Business Profile (GBP) & Google Maps

According to Joe Youngblood Tweet, he has his account suspended for too many user suggested edits to GMB listings in his area. Google has unveiled the redressal form to report any all bad actors. This is not the first person that I have heard about this happening too. The last person had to wait...

www.localsearchforum.com

 

[BenFisher]

Actually, you need to submit it via this form, what you were doing was suggesting an edit to a public profile. The photo you submitted is tied to your personal profile and it appears in this case could have been added to the listing. '

Either way do not submit to Twitter, they will point you to the form.

 

[rutkap]

Thank you,

I will fill out this form. BTW, twitter has not gotten back to me in over a week.

 

[coolrunnings]

what happened with this? did you get those removed?

 

[coolrunnings]

I just sent photos to google on a garage door company that doesn't exist in an area I was in today and it is already gone. that was within 4 hours. Suggest an edit, added photos and boom it's no longer on google

 

[Jac]

It will presented to fact checked to 100s of local guides and if most of them say YES then listing will be removed. it takes a month.

 

[rutkap]

I have submitted today. Took a little longer to get going on this than I wanted.

 

[rutkap]

I have submitted this twice, they still have not removed it even with all my evidence.

Any further suggestions?

 

[Michael S. Doran]

I wonder what would happen if this images was added to the listing...

 

[rutkap]

Oh yeah, the other one got taken down. That pleases me greatly.

 

[Logan Torres]

I would go to that address and from there, report the business as no existent. google believes request at that geo location better than other requests not at that address.

 

[Belen C]

Hi,

When i have this issues, if when after i mark it as does not exist, or duplicate, in some cases they will approve them fast.
After a time if is still there i contact them by chat.
At least for me is the easiest way as you are talking live to a person.

In my case usually they are duplicates of my listings. So cause of the name though maybe they are not exactly the same they remove it.
As you have photos proving the non existence i guess they will approve it as well.

Do you know if the listing are still claim?

 

[Belen C]

And also, in a share office if they have a sign outside with the name of the business that match the name of the listing, that is ok i pretty sure. Is not a motive to be eliminated as it an actual location where they work.

 

[keyserholiday]

Actually, you need to submit it via this form, what you were doing was suggesting an edit to a public profile. The photo you submitted is tied to your personal profile and it appears in this case could have been added to the listing. '

Either way do not submit to Twitter, they will point you to the form.

Honestly, skip the suggest an edits option and use the redressal form. Google is focusing more on the listings submitted by the redressal form.