OK, let’s get something straight here, because this comes up often, too often even. When you manage digital clients, you won’t be able to avoid it, you’re going to get calls from Google – but is it really Google?
You may even have already had a call from a so-called Google employee who wants to talk to you about your Google Business Profile. This legit-sounding person tells you that there’s a problem with your profile; it’s not checked, it’s not secure, and he and his gang could be optimising it. Yeah right!
We’ve got news for you… IT’S A SCAM!
What’s with the Google Scams?
In today’s digital world, it’s vital for your business to get out there and be visible wherever you can, like on Google Business Profile (formerly known as Google My Business). But of course, as with everything digital, the first thing that comes along are the hackers, who have fertile imaginations to try and rip you off and defraud you.
They say they work for Google, you trust them, you give them access to your company file and then, 4 months later, your account is closed, your company is flagged on the search engines, you’ve just lost $30,000 and you’re forced to sell a kidney to a gangster in Sao Paulo because of a cartel that kidnapped your guinea pig Sylvain.
Okay, we’re getting a bit carried away here, but the fact remains that you could have your personal information and data stolen by infecting your computer. The ultimate goal? Take control of your account or use your info for even bigger scams, or even blackmail you.
How to Spot a Scam?
Firstly, Google will never call you directly. Think about it: if you’re having trouble chatting to their support via their site, do you really think they’re going to call you out of the blue and hand you answers on a silver platter? IT’S A SCAM.
One common technique is to tell you that your profile has an urgent problem, so they’re playing on emotion, or that it needs to be checked. They offer to sort it out for you, and that’s great, because you save time and you don’t know how to do it anyway, but then they ask you for sensitive information, like login details or even payments.
And it’s not just calls. You should also be wary of e-mails or text messages asking you to click on any link to “check” or “update” your details. In the case of text messages, you will never, ever receive one from Google. They’re not cool. And for emails, make sure you check the sender. Real Google emails will use domains like ‘@google.com’ and ‘@google.com’. @google.com”, not some weird business. Not even Gmail.
How to Protect Yourself?
- Never give out your personal or company details over the phone. A real Google employee wouldn’t ask you for your passwords or bank details. If someone does, hang up and don’t answer.
- Never click on a link in a suspicious e-mail or text message. If you think there’s something really wrong with your Google profile, log in directly and see for yourself.
- Activate two-factor authentication on your Google Business Account. It’s like a second security guard that can prevent criminals from taking control of your account, even if they have your access.
- Educate your employees. Make sure that everyone who has access to your Google Business accounts is aware of these scams.
What About Facebook?
Yes, because Facebook (Meta) also has its share of digital thieves… If you have a professional page, it’s inevitable that you’ll receive messages saying things like ‘your page is scheduled to be deleted’, because supposedly it doesn’t comply with Meta policies. And then they’ll give you a link to click to fill in your details. It’s just business as usual!
The only problem is that you receive these messages privately on your page, in comments on your posts, in comments on your profile photo (which was changed 7 months ago)… Nothing very legit, if you ask us.
Once again, it’s worth repeating that big companies like Meta will never contact you directly like that. If there’s something really wrong, you’ll receive an email, without necessarily a link. If there is a link, don’t click! Or they won’t say anything at all and you’ll find that your account is blocked on Monday morning.
In a Nutshell
If Google calls you, it’s not Google!
If Meta tells you that your page will be removed, ignore it!
If you see a link, don’t click it!
If you want to talk to these big companies… Good luck!
