Google gathered behind thousands of fake business lists on maps

Google sues a network of fraudsters who dealt with Google Maps by forgery or kidnapping about 10,000 business listings out of people. The main defendant named in suit He is Maryland’s man who has allegedly played a major role in the plan by helping to coordinate fraudsters all over the world to implement them.

The lawsuit, first I mentioned By CBS News, a two -year -old man states “Google Services that have been abused to create fake online lists for companies that do not exist and enhance them with fake reviews of people who are not.” It also claims that the man is participating in the “main generation” scheme by selling information to two other fraudsters about the people he attracted by his fake business lists.

It included a common fraud, a victim calling for business, such as Cafs, found on Google Maps, just to redirect it to a different number. This number will connect them to a non -relevant founder, which can ship an amplifier for the service as soon as they arrive at home. “This behavior is misleading consumers, and their confidence in business profiles is likely to be eroded on Google as a reliable and safe way to find and connect local companies,” the company said in companies. suit.

Google said she had received a complaint from a quarrel in Texas that was impersonated on Google Maps, and then began a deeper achievement in what revealed a larger direction. The company used automatic surveying tools and an analyst dedicated team to investigate complaints and suspicious activity, and to reveal thousands of fake identification files or kidnapped business accounts seized by fraudsters.

Google removed these fake lists of Google Maps, banned the accounts they created, and provided legal procedures in response. However, the lawsuit said that the plan of a Maryland man is still “active and continuous” with the latest fraud at the companies in the Washington, DC, over the past few weeks.

“Fake business lists are prohibited from Google Maps, and we use a set of tools to protect companies and users,” said Google Deleine Prado General Adviser. “This litigation depends on our efforts and sends a clear message that it will not be tolerated with personal plane plans.”

To avoid a victim of this fraud, Brado advised at “CBS Mornings Plus” this week that users visit Scamspotters.com to search for the latest warnings. It also recommended an URL examination to ensure legitimate work matching, and to stop temporarily if you request unnecessary personal information such as the social security number for a postal menu, view dictation dictates, negative transport requests or gift card payments demands.