If you own a business, you may have received phone calls from people claiming to be from Google or working with Google. 

They may offer to help you improve your Google business listing, rank higher on Google search, or get more customers. 

But are these calls legitimate? And how can you tell the difference between a genuine Google representative and a scammer?

In this blog post, we will explain what Google business listing phone calls are, why they are happening, and how to avoid falling for them. 

We will also share some tips on how to optimize your Google business listing for free and without any hassle.

What are Google Business Listing Phone Calls?

Google Business Listing Phone Calls

Google business listing phone calls are unsolicited calls from people who claim to be affiliated with Google or have access to Google’s services. 

They may use various tactics to persuade you to pay for their services, such as:

  • Saying that your Google business listing is incomplete, inaccurate, or at risk of being deleted
  • Offering to verify, update, or optimize your Google business listing for a fee
  • Promising to boost your online visibility, traffic, or sales by using their services
  • Threatening to remove your Google business listing or lower your ranking if you don’t comply
  • Asking for your personal or business information, such as your credit card number, password, or verification code

However, these calls are not from Google or authorized by Google. They are scammers who want to trick you into giving them money or information that they can use to harm you or your business.

Why are Google Business Listing Phone Calls Happening?

Google business listing phone calls are happening because scammers know that many business owners rely on Google to reach their customers and grow their businesses. 

By pretending to be from Google or working with Google, they hope to gain your trust and convince you that they can help you improve your online presence and performance.

However, Google does not make these kinds of calls. According to Google’s official statement:

“Google does not make unsolicited sales calls from an automated system. However, we may place automated phone calls to your business as part of our confirmation process for a variety of Google services. These calls will ask you to confirm information that you’ve previously given us. For example, we may call you when setting up a new AdWords account or updating your account information.”

Therefore, if you receive a call from someone claiming to be from Google or working with Google, and they ask you to pay for something or give them sensitive information, it is most likely a scam.

How to Avoid Falling for Google Business Listing Phone Calls?

Google Business Listing Phone Calls

The best way to avoid falling for Google business listing phone calls is to hang up as soon as you realize that the caller is not from Google or authorized by Google. 

You can also block the number or report it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

Here are some signs that the caller is not from Google or authorized by Google:

  • They use a recorded message or a robocall
  • They ask you to press a button or say “yes” to be connected to a live person
  • They use high-pressure tactics or scare tactics
  • They ask you to pay for something that is free or already included in your Google services
  • They ask you for personal or business information that Google already has or does not need

If you are not sure whether the caller is from Google or authorized by Google, you can always verify their identity by asking them for their name, email address, and phone number. 

You can then contact Google directly using the official channels listed on their website and ask them if the caller is legitimate.

How to Optimize Your Google Business Listing for Free?

You don’t need to pay anyone to optimize your Google business listing. 

You can do it yourself for free and without any hassle by using Google My Business (GMB), a free tool that allows you to manage your online presence across Google, including Search and Maps.

With GMB, you can:

  • Claim and verify your business listing
  • Update your business information, such as your name, address, phone number, website, hours, and categories
  • Add photos, videos, posts, and offers to showcase your products and services
  • Respond to customer reviews and messages
  • Track and analyze your performance and insights

To get started with GMB, all you need is a Gmail account and a physical location for your business. 

You can then sign up for GMB here and follow the instructions to create and verify your business listing.

Conclusion

Google business listing phone calls are scams that target unsuspecting business owners who want to improve their online presence and performance. 

They are not from Google or authorized by Google. 

They are scammers who want to trick you into giving them money or information that they can use to harm you or your business.

The best way to avoid falling for these scams is to hang up as soon as you realize that the caller is not from Google or authorized by Google. You can also block the number or report it to the authorities.

You don’t need to pay anyone to optimize your Google business listing. You can do it yourself for free and without any hassle by using Google My Business, a free tool that allows you to manage your online presence across Google.

If you have any questions or need any help with your Google business listing, you can always contact Google directly using the official channels listed on their website.

We hope this blog post has been helpful and informative. Thank you for reading and have a great day!