"Google" scammers targeting business owners....

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Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2015 7:00 pm

Anyone gotten one of these, or know more about it? Looks like a new twist on the "Microsoft" scam that's been going on for years. I don't know what the object of the scam itself is, but i guess they want you to pay to improve your Google search rank?

http://www.cringely.com/2015/09/07/evil-google-waiting-on-line-one

Hello I'm New here! Joined: 22 Sep 2015 Posts: 8

I get those calls several times a week and just hang up. I am sure that it is just cold call soliciting to sell a pay-per-click advertising program. It has nothing to do with google. Claiming your google listing is something that many older business owners haven't done and take very little time but why not offer to do it for them and then solicit their business?

I wouldn't even classify it as a scam as they undoubtedly will put together an ad program (not very good) and charge (on the high end) for it. As I told one unfortunate woman that wandered in a few months ago. The fact that you paid a company a huge amount of money for "crap grade" flooring that was properly installed is not criminal. Poor ethics of the business owner and poor decision by you, but you really don't have much of a legal argument as to why they should refund your money...all hail P.T. Barnum.

Posted: Sat Sep 26, 2015 2:02 am

This isn't advanced fee fraud, which is what we deal with on this site. there are all sorts of phone scams floating around as well as some genuine calls made with abysmal customer relations. Please make sure which you're receiving before posting.

In any event, hanging up is always the right way to handle it. Just make sure you don't give the caller any further info like your name or contact info.

Baiting Guru Joined: 03 May 2007 Posts: 18313

Hi Herp - it's nice to see you back. I remember when you used to fill the surplus forum every day. Very Happy

As Capone said (and you probably already know), this isn't advance fraud, so not relevant to Eater or baiting, but interesting to discuss.

I followed your link and read the article. I'm not certain what is going on, but if it's not actually Google calling, it may be a version of a directory listing scam that targets businesses.
The way those work is that some company calls you about your free listing, then tries to bill you for services you didn't agree to.
I'm familiar with a version in which the scammers were using variations of Yellow Pages names. It may be that they've moved on to doing this in the name of Google, or it may be a scheme as described by deal breaker.

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