Thousands of Fake Google Maps Listings Redirect Users To Fraudulent Sites

An anonymous reader quotes a report from BleepingComputer: Tens of thousands of fake listings are added to Google Maps each month, redirecting users to fraudulent websites selling phony or overpriced services, or are part of some referral scam. Researchers say that 74% of these abusive listings were for local businesses in the U.S. and India, mainly in pockets around certain local hotspots, especially in large metropolitan areas such as New York, Chicago, Houston, or Los Angeles. In most cases, the scheme was simple. A customer in need of a locksmith or electrician would search Google Maps for a local company. If he navigated to the website of a fake business or called its number, a call center operator posing as the business' representative would send over an unaccredited contractor that would charge much more than regular professionals. If a customer's situation were urgent, the contractor would often charge more than the initial agreed upon price. Researchers said that 40.3% of all the listings for fake companies they found focused on on-call services, such as locksmiths, plumbers, and electricians, and were for customers who were desperate to resolve issues. Further, overall, operators of fake listings managed to hijack 0.5% of Google Maps' outbound traffic for the studied period.

This is why

[phantomfive]

This is why we can't have good things.

Re:

[Demena]

Where cuz?

Re:

[Anonymous Coward]

redirecting users to fraudulent websites selling phony or overpriced services

So only Apple, Best Buy and Microsoft are allowed to sell overpriced products?

Unlike Apple maps

[jfdavis668]

With Google maps, at least you will get there, even if it is fake. With Apple maps, you never know.

Re:

[phantomfive]

Near where I live there's an elevated overpass, with a location almost directly under the overpass. Google maps suggests driving directly off the edge of the overpass to get there. So you know, get there, if you don't mind the 10m drop.

Re:Unlike Apple maps

[jfdavis668]

A man using Apple maps walked into a bar, or maybe a hotel, or possibly a church...

Re:

[Anonymous Coward]

" If he navigated to the website of a fake business or called its number, a call center operator posing as the business' representative would send over an unaccredited contractor that would charge much more than regular professionals."

Locksmith and electrician are licensed professions. So calling for a locksmith, not getting a locksmith, but some schmo who overcharges you is a scam.

Re:

[sexconker]

Sounds great, actually. I'd love to fall victim to this. Pay whoever for whatever work, then contest the charge with my credit card after I find out they're unlicensed and fraudulent. If they try to come back to my property to recover materials or whatever, they're trespassing. If they go to the cops or a court, they get thrown in jail. The actual work they do and parts they use are likely no worse than a typical licensed pro / contractor.

Re:Sounds like real listings

[Waffle Iron]

So in order to save a few bucks, you think it's a good idea to first let a criminal make off with a copy of your house keys, then give him your credit card info, and finally go through the hassle of trying to stop payment to him. What could possibly go wrong?

Re:

[ls671]

I kinda have to admit that's what I thought too while reading the parent post a while ago...

Re:

[ls671]

Hello dear Sir,

It is me! The electrician ^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H locksmith!

I can assure you that I am fully legit and competent and that I possesse all certifications.

Fell free to call me anytime in full confidence, I guarantee your full satisfaction.

Also, do not believe all the fake news you read on the Internet. I am afraid that this article might impact me and make it harder for me to take care of my nine kids and my wife.

Thank you dear Sir,

Re:

[ryocoon]

Pretty much any time a title document changes (which ends up being publicly searchable) numerous letters come out of the ether from official looking companies offering the same thing. It is actually a really common practice, albeit a shitty one. It preys upon the unknowing, the lazy, and the nervous ("Oh shit, this form letter looks important, I better answer back to it and send them their asked for money."). Repeat when there are construction permits gained, etc. A lot of this stuff is public searchable

Which one is from India?

[140Mandak262Jamuna]

Researchers say that 74% of these abusive listings were for local businesses in the U.S. and India, mainly in pockets around certain local hotspots, especially in large metropolitan areas such as New York, Chicago, Houston, or Los Angeles.

I am sure one of these large metro areas is in India, why else would they include India in the countries list? 35 cities in India [citymayors.com] with population more than 1 million. Top 50 cities in USA [infoplease.com]

Fraud by competitors

[FrankHaynes]

I have seen some cases where, say a restaurant was listed at a location that is actually an empty field. So Mr. Google Maps User gets directions and wastes time and gas driving to an empty field. My guess is that such listings are submitted by the competitor of the restaurant or maybe a disgruntled former employee or customer.

I have also seen my submissions to update bogus locations or bad info go unpublished, so for all we know some of the Google Maps community editors are Bad Guys themselves who seek to keep certain listings with bad info for the benefit of their buddies or businesses who pay them to keep things that way.

tl;dr Crowdsourcing works only as long as the crowd is trustworthy.

Not Fake

[Gavagai80]

If they actually perform the requested work, they're not exactly fake companies -- just bad companies with deceptive pricing and uncertified workmanship.

Ingenuity

[JustAnotherOldGuy]

The ingenuity of shitbag scammers never ceases to amaze me. They manage to pollute everything, large or small. How I wish they would all die in a fire.

Re:

[kaatochacha]

Hello Sir!
I offer you my service, "kill shitbag scammers in a fire", for low price of only $450 per for each fire made!
I can easily be gotten by calling my office in NEW YORK CITY, UNITED STATES.
Please search google maps for my servicing!

Wrong road?

[Neuronwelder]

Is that how I ended up in Walley World? https://www.bustle.com/article... [bustle.com]

Kill Them All

[Anonymous Coward]

I am Advocating to the President the Extra-Judicial Killing of All Alphabet and Google Employees back to 1 January 1998.

Ha ha Ice Cream Man, Prof. Eric Der Schmidity!

Die ... Ignominiously !

Obligatory xkcd quote

[LordHighExecutioner]

Here [xkcd.com]. Anybody going there ?

This is Old Hat

[Thelasko]

I saw this years ago when I was looking for a locksmith to get a specialized key made. A lot of the "local" locksmith listings are directed to the same nationwide company. I suspect that company then turns around and sends out a legitimate locksmith for a hefty fee.

The problem is that most people aren't looking for a locksmith unless it's an emergency. They don't have time to research a reputable one. After this discovery, I make it a point to save the phone number of any locksmith businesses I see ar