Google is suing a group of scammers who’ve been trying to trick hundreds of businesses into paying fees to maintain their presence on Google Search and Google Maps.
On Tuesday, the search giant filed a lawsuit to stop companies under the names “G Verifiers” and “G Hyperlocal” from continuing the fraud. “Since approximately December 2021, hundreds and hundreds of Business Profile merchants have contacted Google to complain about G Verifier’s harassing and deceptive scheme,” Google said.
According to the lawsuit, the scammers have been calling up businesses in unsolicited telemarketing calls while impersonating Google or claiming to act on behalf of the tech giant. During the calls, the groups can threaten to deactivate a merchant’s listing over Google services unless a $99 fee is paid as part of the verification process. In reality, creating a business profile on Google Search and Maps is free.
To dupe victims, the group has been sending businesses text messages that contain fake verification codes supposedly from Google. “By mimicking these authentication codes during telemarketing calls, G Verifier’s agents bolster the misimpression that they have access to Google’s systems and therefore are a part of Google or otherwise authorized by Google,” the company’s lawsuit added.
Indeed, many victims have already been posting about encountering the scam. “This group called saying that they needed to verify my Google My Business account, that these accounts are free for 10 months but now my rankings are low and they need to re-activate it,” one business owner wrote in September.
Both the G Verifiers and G Hyperlocal branding have also been trying to imitate Google’s own logo and designs. In addition, the scammers will issue receipts labeled with the name Google after victims pay up.
In response to the complaints, Google filed a lawsuit, urging an Ohio court to issue an injunction to stop the scam activity. The search giant is also demanding the alleged fraudsters pay damages. The lawsuit names Kaushal Patel and Bharat Parekh as two Ohio residents allegedly involved in the scam, citing their links to trademark and brand filings for G-Verifiers and G Hyperlocal in the state.
G-Verifiers and GoMarketIn, the company behind G Hyperlocal, didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. In the meantime, Google is advising business owners to be on guard against potential scam activity.
"When in doubt, hang up. If you receive an unwanted or unexpected call from someone who claims to be an official representative of an organization and asks for money, feel free to hang up anytime," the company said.