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Understanding the Scam’s Context

As a small business owner, we’re sure you understand the importance of maintaining an active Google Business Profile for your business. Google is, by far, the most popular search engine among American consumers, so it’s key to ensure that your business is visible on the platform. Scammers, too, have realized the deep trust many place in Google. This trust, combined with the significance of online visibility for businesses, creates a fertile ground for deceit. Small businesses, often lacking dedicated IT teams or comprehensive cybersecurity measures, become prime targets for such scams.

How the Scam Works

The scam begins with a phone call, typically automated, alerting the business owner that their Google Business Profile has been suspended due to suspicious activity. The caller may introduce themselves as a representative from Google and press the urgency of the situation, emphasizing the potential loss of customers.

The objective? It varies. The scam might be a ruse to get the business owner to divulge sensitive information, such as login credentials, or to pay a fee to have their profile “reinstated.” It’s manipulative, leveraging the fear of losing potential customers.

Should a business fall for this ruse, the repercussions are vast. Direct financial loss from fees paid to the scammer is just the start. If the scammer is able to manipulate you in to handing over access credentials, they could completely hijack your business profile. From there, they could alter details on your profile, potentially sending your leads to a competitor. They could even just delete your profile altogether, costing you all of your hard-earned reviews! Needless to say, the reputational damage from such intrusions can be long-lasting.

Is Your Profile Actually Suspended? Verify Before You Act

Before panicking, there’s a straightforward way to ascertain the status of your Google Business Profile:

1. Login to Google: Head over to Google and ensure you’re signed in to the correct account linked with your Google Business Profile.
2. Access the Manager: Navigate to the Google Business Profile Manager. This is your command center for all things related to your business’s Google presence.
3. Check the Status: Once in the Profile Manager, look for notifications or alerts. If your profile was genuinely suspended, this is where Google would notify you.

Will Google Ever Call You Regarding Your Business Profile?

It’s important to note that Google rarely cold calls small businesses. If there is a genuine problem with your Google Business Profile, they will likely alert you via email. Direct calls from Google representatives are exceedingly rare, though they can happen. It’s essential to discern between legitimate communications from Google and a scam. Here are some tips to help you make this distinction:

• Authentic Google calls will typically originate from a (650) area code, signaling their Mountain View, CA base.
• A real Google representative will never request direct payment, press aggressive sales, or push for immediate actions under threat.
  • Remember that Google Business Profiles are completely free! No Google representative should ever request payment to list your business on their platform.
• Unsolicited calls from Google, when legitimate, tend to be benign. They may call you in order to verify simple details on your business profile, such as your operating hours.

Our Final Word: Stay Safe and Informed

The digital realm, while rife with marketing opportunities for small businesses, has its fair share of dangers. It’s vital to approach unsolicited communication with a dose of skepticism, especially if it’s a cold call asserting affiliation with Google.

Remember, if you’re concerned that your Google Business Profile has been suspended, always verify directly through your Google account before taking any actions. And, if you’re ever in doubt about online scams or the status of your Google Business Profile, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at Prospect Genius. We’re here to assist and ensure your online business presence remains secure and flourishing.

In today’s digital age, having an online presence isn’t just beneficial for your small business— it’s essential. Google, being a dominant force in the online ecosystem, is a primary platform for businesses seeking visibility. However, with this prominence comes potential pitfalls, notably in the form of scam calls. One of the most prevalent and concerning scams targeting small businesses today is something we’re calling the “Verify Your Google Business Profile” scam. In this post, we’ll dive deep into its mechanics, its aims, and how to safeguard against it.

The allure of posing as Google

Scammers often take the path of least resistance, seeking ways to exploit trust and credibility. Posing as representatives from Google, a platform universally recognized and trusted, they can prey on businesses who rely heavily on their online reputation and visibility.

Why do these scammers target small businesses?

Small businesses are often the prime targets for a handful of reasons:

• Resource Limitation: Many small businesses lack the IT infrastructure or expertise to quickly identify and thwart such threats.
• Reliance on Visibility: For many small businesses, local search visibility on Google is crucial. Any threat to this visibility can be perceived as dire, making them more susceptible to scare tactics.
• Less Familiarity: Larger corporations often have protocols and training in place for such scams, while smaller entities might not be as well-prepared or informed.

How the scam operates

The scam typically starts with an automated call, asserting a connection with Google. The message will urge the business to “press 1 to verify [their] Google Profile.” But it doesn’t stop there. The robo-caller intensifies the pressure by warning of dire consequences. They claim that if the business doesn’t comply, potential customers may no longer find them on Google. For many businesses, especially smaller ones, such a threat can spur hasty, ill-informed decisions.

Once a business owner or representative presses ‘1’, the trap snaps shut. They could be routed to a live scammer, further pushing the ruse, possibly seeking sensitive business details or direct payment.

Objectives of the scam

So, what are these scammers looking to gain? Most often, money. Once you’ve bought in to their ruse, these scammers may coax you to pay a fee for profile “verification”. Data theft is another possible goal, with the acquired information aiding other fraudulent activities. In more extreme cases, the scammer might aim to take over your business profile. Once in control of your Google Business Profile, these bad actors could maliciously alter the information on your profile, or potentially delete it altogether— a devastating blow to your online reputation.

Recognizing Legitimate Google Calls

It’s important to note that Google will rarely call small businesses unsolicited. In the case that your Google Business Profile needs to be verified, they will likely contact you via your Google account email. However, there are some cases in which a representative from Google will reach out to you. Here are some tips to help you identify when that call is legitimate, and when you should hang up:

• Origins: Genuine Google calls typically come from a (650) area code, signaling they’re from Mountain View, CA. This is the location of Google’s main corporate office.
• Content: Legitimate Google representatives will never request payment in exchange for verifying your Google Business Profile. Representing your business on Google with a Google Business Profile is completely free, and no legitimate representative from Google will ever demand payment in exchange for this service.
• Initiation: Google rarely calls businesses unsolicited. If they do, they may wish to verbally confirm certain profile details for quality control purposes— but never under duress or threat.

The “Verify Your Google Business Profile” scam we’ve outlined in this blog post is a manifestation of the constant battle between scammers seeking new avenues of deception and businesses striving to protect their interests. Awareness is the first line of defense. Here at Prospect Genius, it’s our goal to help you understand the nature of these scams. Knowledge is power! When you stay informed, your small business will be better prepared to tackle these bad actors head-on, ensuring your operations remain unscathed in the digital realm.

Be sure to check the Prospect Genius blog frequently for more information on how to protect your small business’s digital footprint— and if you have any questions, always feel free to give us a call or reach out via email.