Troubleshooting
How to Report Fake and Spam Business Listings on Google Maps
Competitors using fake addresses, keyword-stuffed names or duplicate listings? How to spot Google Maps spam, report it correctly, and escalate with the Redressal Complaint form.
By Chamko Research Team Updated 3 min read
Quick answer
Use Suggest an edit for wrong details (such as a keyword-stuffed name) and Report → Remove this place for listings that don't exist. Gather evidence (Street View, photos, website, registered name). If the in-app report is ignored, escalate with Google's Business Redressal Complaint form, explaining the policy violation clearly. Only report genuine violations — never submit inaccurate edits about competitors.
Quick answer: Use Suggest an edit for wrong details (such as a keyword-stuffed name) and Report → Remove this place for listings that don't exist. Gather evidence (Street View, photos, website, registered name). If the in-app report is ignored, escalate with Google's Business Redressal Complaint form, explaining the policy violation clearly. Only report genuine violations — never submit inaccurate edits about competitors.
Spam listings steal calls from honest businesses. In competitive categories — locksmiths, AC repair, packers & movers, pest control — fake listings are common.
Common types of spam
| Spam type | Example | Policy issue |
|---|---|---|
| Keyword-stuffed name | "Best AC Repair Service Andheri 24x7" when the real name is "Sai Cooling" | Name must match real-world branding |
| Fake address | Listing at a house, PO box or virtual office with no business | Must have a real location staffed during hours |
| Duplicates | Same business with several listings | One listing per business per location |
| Lead-gen listings | Listings that forward calls to a call centre | Must represent a real business |
| Fake reviews | Burst of identical 5★ reviews | Fake engagement |
How to check before reporting
- Street View / visit — is there a signboard at the address?
- Website and registrations — what is the business's real name?
- Phone — does it connect to the business or a call centre?
- Duplicates — search the phone number on Google Maps.
How to report
- Open the listing on Google Maps.
- For a wrong name: Suggest an edit → Change name or other details and enter the real-world name.
- For a business that doesn't exist: Suggest an edit → Remove this place → Spam / fake.
- For fake reviews: flag each review as spam/fake.
Escalate with the Redressal Complaint form
If reports are ignored or the listing returns, Google provides a Business Redressal Complaint form for reporting policy violations by other businesses. Explain the pattern, include links to each listing, and attach evidence such as photos and the real business name. Third-party guides note that success is not guaranteed and listings are sometimes recreated, so monitor your area.
What not to do
- Don't report competitors just because they outrank you.
- Don't suggest false edits — it can hurt your own credibility.
- Don't fight spam with spam (fake reviews or listings of your own).
Example: a fake locksmith network
In many cities, fake "24-hour locksmith" or "AC repair" listings appear at random addresses with call-centre numbers. A genuine locksmith in Delhi noticed six such listings in his area pushing him down. He checked each one: Street View showed homes or empty plots, the phone numbers led to the same call centre, and the photos were stock images.
He reported each listing with "Suggest an edit → Remove this place → Spam, fake or offensive", and then submitted a single Business Redressal Complaint Form with screenshots and Street View evidence for all six. Over the following weeks most were removed, and his own listing moved back up.
Evidence to collect before reporting
- Screenshots of the listing (name, address, phone, photos).
- Street View or your own photo of the address showing no such business.
- Notes from a test call if you made one (what they said, who answered).
- Links to other listings using the same phone number.
Frequently asked questions
How long does removal take?
Edits can apply within days, but escalations through the redressal form may take weeks.
Will removing spam improve my ranking?
Often yes — fake listings occupy positions in the local pack. Removing them can move genuine businesses up.
Can Google penalise me for reporting?
Accurate reports are fine. Repeated false reports can reduce how much Google trusts your edits.