{"id":8266,"date":"2021-04-02T13:20:13","date_gmt":"2021-04-02T17:20:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bjmedia.ca\/?p=8266"},"modified":"2021-05-08T10:28:16","modified_gmt":"2021-05-08T14:28:16","slug":"agencies-pretending-to-be-google-representatives-when-they-arent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bjmedia.ca\/en\/agencies-pretending-to-be-google-representatives-when-they-arent\/","title":{"rendered":"Agencies pretending to be Google representatives when they aren\u2019t"},"content":{"rendered":"

Some agencies pretend to be assigned by Google to update your Google My Business listing. Google doesn\u2019t entrust this task to anyone. Don\u2019t be taken in!<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a Google My Business listing<\/p>\n

\"google-my-business-listing\"<\/p>\n

The approach<\/h1>\n

First, the caller will verify your identity: \u201cAm I speaking to so-and-so from such-and-such company?\u201d<\/p>\n

He or she will then claim to be a Google representative<\/strong>: \ud83d\udc68\u200d\ud83d\udcbc \u201cI\u2019ve received your file from Google and I have certain information on your Google My Business listing that needs to be verified. Do you consent to look at it with me?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u274c Lie #1:<\/strong> Google doesn\u2019t have a team of field representatives or agencies whose duty it is to update company listings.<\/p>\n

The discussion continues as the caller verifies the information appearing on your Google listing point by point: full mailing address, telephone number, website, photos, geographical location, etc. The caller, who really seems to know what he or she is talking about, then asks you if you can see the link \u201cSuggest an edit \u2013 Own this business?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you can see it, it means that this option must be disabled immediately. Otherwise, anyone can modify your listing. We can do it for you since we have access to your listing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"google-my-business-suggest-an-edit\"<\/p>\n

\u274c Lie #2:<\/strong> these two lines appear on every listing and you can\u2019t disable them. Verify it for yourself! The line \u201cOwn this business?\u201d appears on every listing\u2014even the ones that aren\u2019t yours!<\/strong> If someone tries to claim your listing, a validation code will be sent to your company by telephone or mail. This method helps prevent fraud. Change requests and suggestions for modifications to Google My Business listings are always sent via email and must be approved by the owner of the listing.<\/p>\n

The caller will then ask you a completely ridiculous question: \u201cDo you know your competitors?\u201d Of course you do! \u201cIf you scroll down, you\u2019ll see that your competitors are advertising on your listing. This option must be disabled.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"google-my-business-search\"<\/p>\n

\u274c Lie #3:<\/strong> this is obviously not true, as the advertisements are for related companies. This section is managed by Google to highlight companies that are similar to the one in the listing. Companies do not pay to be featured in this spot.<\/p>\n

The supposed representative will then offer to update your listing and get you paid indexing so that you can appear on the first page of Google. Despite claiming to work for Google, the person will request payment directly from you. \ud83e\udd11<\/p>\n

The reality<\/h1>\n

There are no certified Google Partner agencies that are assigned by Google to update your Google My Business listing.<\/strong> The person at the other end pretending to be available to help you will be convincing. Guaranteed! The fake representative will even use a Google Partner badge to appear more credible (sort of like an external certification to reinforce perceived value). You should be aware that any agency that meets the eligibility requirements can become a certified Google Partner.<\/p>\n

To be completely honest, we\u2019re writing this because several of our clients have been approached by these scam artists who claim to be Google representatives. One of our clients even delegated the follow-up of the fraudulent call to one of the web strategists here at BJM\u00e9dia! We played along to get a better understanding of the scam so we could defend our client! We always work to support our clients\u2014today, tomorrow and forever!<\/strong> \ud83e\uddb8 We were able to familiarize ourselves with their strategy of approach: their speech is peppered with pseudo-convincing assertions.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re faced with this situation, don\u2019t worry! Just be indulgent. We don\u2019t want you to have to go through the same unpleasant situation. You aren\u2019t the first to be approached nor will you be the last. Just remember that Google doesn\u2019t enter into partnerships of this kind with anyone.<\/p>\n

What you can do<\/h1>\n