Okay, let’s get something straight here, because it comes up a lot, maybe too often. When you manage customers digitally, it’s non-negotiable, you’re going to get calls from Google – but is it really Google?
Maybe you’ve even had a phone call from a so-called Google employee who wants to talk to you about your Google Business Profile. This legit-sounding person tells you there’s a problem with your listing; it’s not verified, it’s not secure, and he and his gang could be optimizing 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 to come 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 a cartel kidnapped your guinea pig Sylvain.
Okay, we’re getting a little 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.
How to spot a scam?
First of all, 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 give you a call out of the blue and finally offer 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 play 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 don’t know how to do it anyway, but then they ask you for sensitive info, like login details or even payments.
And it’s not just phone calls. Beware of e-mails or text messages asking you to click on any link to “verify” or “update” your listing. In the case of text messages, you’ll never, ever receive one from Google. They’re not cool. And for e-mails, 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 information over the phone. A real Google employee wouldn’t ask you for your passwords or banking info. If someone does, hang up and don’t answer. Tell them it’s from us!
- 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 judge for yourself.
- Enable 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 business page, it’s inevitable that you’ll get 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 picture (which was changed 7 months ago)… Nothing very legit, if you ask us.
Again, it bears repeating that big companies like Meta will never contact you directly like this. If there’s something really wrong, you’ll receive an e-mail, without necessarily a link. If there is a link, don’t click! Or they’ll say nothing at all, and you’ll find your account blocked on Monday morning.
In a nutshell
If Google calls you, it’s not Google!
If Meta tells you your page will be deleted, ignore it!
If you see a link, don’t click it!
If you want to talk to these big companies… Good luck!