$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
Google Maps business listing scam
Scammers create or hijack Google Maps business listings with fake phone numbers, intercepting calls meant for legitimate businesses to redirect customers or steal information.
“impersonation scam”
↑ 604%Key indicators
Usually targetsConsumers
Often hitsSmall business owners
Common regionUnited States
Last updated2026-04-04
Estimated impact
$640
median reported loss
Typical range$40 – $8.0K
Recovery rate~15%
Annual reports330,000
Scam breakdown
1
Scammers create fake business listings or edit legitimate ones on Google Maps, replacing the real phone number with their own.
2
Consumers searching for a business call the fake number, believing they are reaching the real company.
3
The scammer poses as the business, collects credit card information for fake bookings, or charges fees for services they do not provide.
What to do first
Always verify a business phone number by checking their official website before calling a number from Google Maps.
Related terms
fake Google Maps listingGoogle Maps phone number hijackBrand impersonation scamsGoogleSurgingConsumersSmall business ownersOlder adultsSmall business ownersCreators and online sellersRetirees and seniorsUnited StatesUnited KingdomCanadafake Google Maps listingGoogle Maps phone number hijack
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Kenji, 35, a consumers, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate brand impersonation scams situation while using Google. Scammers create fake business listings or edit legitimate ones on Google Maps, replacing the real phone number with their own.
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: Consumers searching for a business call the fake number, believing they are reaching the real company.
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: The scammer poses as the business, collects credit card information for fake bookings, or charges fees for services they do not provide.
The outcome
Kenji realized something was wrong when phone number on google maps listing does not match the number on the business's official website. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Always verify a business phone number by checking their official website before calling a number from Google Maps. Kenji's experience shows why phone number on google maps listing does not match the number on the business's official website and the person who answers asks for your credit card or personal information before providing service are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- Phone number on Google Maps listing does not match the number on the business's official website
- The person who answers asks for your credit card or personal information before providing service
- Search results show multiple listings for the same business with different phone numbers
- Pause before paying, clicking, or sharing information. Scammers rely on speed.
- Verify the sender, company, or agency using a phone number or website you already know is legitimate.
- Treat secrecy, urgency, and off-platform payment requests as strong scam signals.
What to do now
- ✓Always verify a business phone number by checking their official website before calling a number from Google Maps.
- ✓Business owners should regularly check their Google Business Profile for unauthorized edits.
- ✓Report incorrect or fake listings to Google through the 'Suggest an edit' feature on Google Maps.
What to save before reporting
- ✓Save the message, profile, phone number, email, or URL that was used.
- ✓Keep payment confirmations, receipts, and account alerts before you dispute or delete anything.
- ✓Write down the timeline while the details are still fresh.
How big is this problem
You are not alone — this scam affects millions of people.
These numbers come from government agencies and official reports. If you have been affected, know that this is a widespread problem — not something that only happens to careless people.
FTC 2024 fraud losses
Imposters
Most common FTC fraud category in 2024
FTC says imposter scams remained the most commonly reported fraud category in 2024.
History and evolution
- This scam family tends to persist because the social-engineering pressure works even when the exact scripts, platforms, and payment methods change.
- The specific packaging evolves over time, but the core pattern usually stays the same: create urgency, control the channel, and push action before verification.
- The FBI has warned about fake business listings used to intercept customer calls, particularly targeting airline customer service, locksmith, and tech support searches.
Recovery and follow-up
- ✓Save the messages, receipts, account alerts, and transaction details before you block or delete anything.
- ✓Report the scam through the official platform or government channel that best matches where it happened.
- ✓Always verify a business phone number by checking their official website before calling a number from Google Maps.
- ✓Business owners should regularly check their Google Business Profile for unauthorized edits.
- ✓Report incorrect or fake listings to Google through the 'Suggest an edit' feature on Google Maps.
Why this pattern keeps working
Even when the story changes, most scams still use the same pressure pattern: urgency, authority, and a request to move money or data fast.
The FBI has warned about fake business listings used to intercept customer calls, particularly targeting airline customer service, locksmith, and tech support searches.
FBI IC3 2024
Where to report it
If you have been targeted by this scam, reporting it helps authorities track the pattern and protect others. United States has dedicated agencies that handle fraud reports.
ReportFraud.gov
Federal Trade Commission
Central U.S. consumer fraud reporting portal.
File an IC3 complaint
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
FBI portal for internet-enabled crime reports.
Start identity theft recovery
IdentityTheft.gov
Official U.S. identity theft recovery plan builder.
Explore further
Understand the bigger picture
Who is most at risk
Who this scam targets
Primary targets
Consumers, Small business owners, Older adults
Geographic concentration
United States, United Kingdom, Canada
Primary channel
Google — Brand impersonation scams
Why this group is vulnerable
Consumers are particularly vulnerable because this scam exploits trust in familiar brands, authority figures, and time-sensitive decisions. The rapid increase in reports suggests that awareness among this demographic remains low.
Sources and methodology
How we verify this information
OpenScam tracks scam patterns using a combination of government consumer protection databases (FTC, IC3, Action Fraud), platform-specific fraud reports, and verified consumer complaint data. Each entry is cross-referenced against at least two independent sources before publication.
Severity ratings are based on financial impact potential, reversibility of damage, and volume of reports across multiple reporting channels. Trend velocity reflects the rate of change in report volume over the most recent 90-day window.
This page was last verified on 2026-04-04. Red flags, recovery steps, and reporting resources are reviewed quarterly against current agency guidance.
Evidence and indicators
- The FBI has warned about fake business listings used to intercept customer calls, particularly targeting airline customer service, locksmith, and tech support searches.
Source notes
- FBI IC3 2024
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about google maps business listing scam
How does the google maps business listing scam work?+
Scammers create fake business listings or edit legitimate ones on Google Maps, replacing the real phone number with their own. Consumers searching for a business call the fake number, believing they are reaching the real company. The scammer poses as the business, collects credit card information for fake bookings, or charges fees for services they do not provide.
What are the warning signs of google maps business listing scam?+
Phone number on Google Maps listing does not match the number on the business's official website The person who answers asks for your credit card or personal information before providing service Search results show multiple listings for the same business with different phone numbers
What should I do if I encounter google maps business listing scam?+
Always verify a business phone number by checking their official website before calling a number from Google Maps. Business owners should regularly check their Google Business Profile for unauthorized edits. Report incorrect or fake listings to Google through the 'Suggest an edit' feature on Google Maps.
Who is most at risk for google maps business listing scam?+
This scam primarily targets Consumers, Small business owners, Older adults. It is most commonly reported in United States, United Kingdom, Canada and typically appears on Google.
Is google maps business listing scam getting worse?+
Google Maps business listing scam is currently surging — reports are increasing rapidly. It has been reported across US, UK, CA. Last updated 2026-04-04.
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Help someone avoid this scam.
Scammers succeed because people do not talk about it. If you or someone you know has been affected, there is no shame in it — it happens to millions of people every year. Share this page with friends and family so they know what to look for.
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