Comments on: Google Maps: Widespread Hijacking of Business Listings Confirmed http://blumenthals.com/blog/2008/09/18/google-maps-widespread-hijacking-of-business-listings-confirmed/ Developing Knowledge about Local Search Fri, 19 Mar 2010 11:20:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: NZ Florist Facing 7 Years for Hijacking Local Listings of Competitors in GMaps | Understanding Google Maps & Local Search http://blumenthals.com/blog/2008/09/18/google-maps-widespread-hijacking-of-business-listings-confirmed/comment-page-1/#comment-448802 NZ Florist Facing 7 Years for Hijacking Local Listings of Competitors in GMaps | Understanding Google Maps & Local Search Fri, 11 Dec 2009 15:44:45 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=810#comment-448802 [...] shortly after Google introduced community edits for Maps. In September of last year there was widespread hijacking of florists by an affiliate spammer. Readers of this blog will remember my hijacking of the Microsoft’s [...] [...] shortly after Google introduced community edits for Maps. In September of last year there was widespread hijacking of florists by an affiliate spammer. Readers of this blog will remember my hijacking of the Microsoft’s [...]

]]> By: Local Business Profiles: How to Improve your Local Business Listing Ranking | Atlantic BT http://blumenthals.com/blog/2008/09/18/google-maps-widespread-hijacking-of-business-listings-confirmed/comment-page-1/#comment-404878 Local Business Profiles: How to Improve your Local Business Listing Ranking | Atlantic BT Fri, 10 Jul 2009 19:52:02 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=810#comment-404878 [...] is if your listing is verified or not.  If you do not claim your listing, you are susceptible to profile hijacking.  Profile or listing hijacking means that someone acts like they are your listing and changes the [...] [...] is if your listing is verified or not.  If you do not claim your listing, you are susceptible to profile hijacking.  Profile or listing hijacking means that someone acts like they are your listing and changes the [...]

]]> By: » Claim Your Business In Google Maps Before Someone Else Does Search Engine Optimization Journal - SEO and Search Engine Marketing Blog http://blumenthals.com/blog/2008/09/18/google-maps-widespread-hijacking-of-business-listings-confirmed/comment-page-1/#comment-350276 » Claim Your Business In Google Maps Before Someone Else Does Search Engine Optimization Journal - SEO and Search Engine Marketing Blog Thu, 19 Mar 2009 16:43:44 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=810#comment-350276 [...] their own affiliate sites. Finding unclaimed businesses these days is not terribly hard either. Mike Blumenthal on his blog he reported: The spammers, using the end user edit tools, would change the phone number [...] [...] their own affiliate sites. Finding unclaimed businesses these days is not terribly hard either. Mike Blumenthal on his blog he reported: The spammers, using the end user edit tools, would change the phone number [...]

]]> By: Google Maps vs Locksmith Spammers: Spammers winning? » Understanding Google Maps & Yahoo Local Search http://blumenthals.com/blog/2008/09/18/google-maps-widespread-hijacking-of-business-listings-confirmed/comment-page-1/#comment-333414 Google Maps vs Locksmith Spammers: Spammers winning? » Understanding Google Maps & Yahoo Local Search Wed, 25 Feb 2009 12:09:41 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=810#comment-333414 [...] little hard to love. They aren’t Mom and Apple Pie, they aren’t florists who we can all identify with when things go wrong. The industry is hypercomptetive and they have been at the forefront of cracking all sorts of [...] [...] little hard to love. They aren’t Mom and Apple Pie, they aren’t florists who we can all identify with when things go wrong. The industry is hypercomptetive and they have been at the forefront of cracking all sorts of [...]

]]> By: In the Trenches Of Local: SF Florist’s Maps Listing Goes Missing » Understanding Google Maps & Yahoo Local Search http://blumenthals.com/blog/2008/09/18/google-maps-widespread-hijacking-of-business-listings-confirmed/comment-page-1/#comment-327499 In the Trenches Of Local: SF Florist’s Maps Listing Goes Missing » Understanding Google Maps & Yahoo Local Search Fri, 06 Feb 2009 18:12:52 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=810#comment-327499 [...] In search of CouponsSean (1 comments) on Local Links of InterestRob Reynolds (1 comments) on Google Maps: Widespread Hijacking of Business Listings ConfirmedBlue Summit (1 comments) on Confessions of a Google Enabler: In search of CouponsBig Bubba (1 [...] [...] In search of CouponsSean (1 comments) on Local Links of InterestRob Reynolds (1 comments) on Google Maps: Widespread Hijacking of Business Listings ConfirmedBlue Summit (1 comments) on Confessions of a Google Enabler: In search of CouponsBig Bubba (1 [...]

]]> By: Rob Reynolds http://blumenthals.com/blog/2008/09/18/google-maps-widespread-hijacking-of-business-listings-confirmed/comment-page-1/#comment-326403 Rob Reynolds Mon, 02 Feb 2009 14:59:14 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=810#comment-326403 Wow, I've seen a lot of techno chatter back and forth on this in a lot of places. I work for the largest locksmith in the US and have been doing research for the Associated Locksmiths of America on this issue. I saw reports saying that Googles algorythm was being overzealous etc but most of all this is nonsense. The problem is just a bug. If you go into any listing, regardless if it is claimed or not and make numerous changes to the phone number and he address it will get to the point where it will only offer you a phone verification with THE NEW NUMBER that you just changed it tOO! Locksmith Scammers have started doing this in mass to local locksmiths in the past couple of months very effectivley. THIS IS JUST A BUG THAT GOOGLE NEEDS TO FIX. If a phone number is changed...don't use the new phone number for verification of the changes DUH. I can't believe this simple bug exist. Wow, I’ve seen a lot of techno chatter back and forth on this in a lot of places.

I work for the largest locksmith in the US and have been doing research for the Associated Locksmiths of America on this issue.

I saw reports saying that Googles algorythm was being overzealous etc but most of all this is nonsense.

The problem is just a bug. If you go into any listing, regardless if it is claimed or not and make numerous changes to the phone number and he address it will get to the point where it will only offer you a phone verification with THE NEW NUMBER that you just changed it tOO!

Locksmith Scammers have started doing this in mass to local locksmiths in the past couple of months very effectivley.

THIS IS JUST A BUG THAT GOOGLE NEEDS TO FIX. If a phone number is changed…don’t use the new phone number for verification of the changes DUH. I can’t believe this simple bug exist.

]]> By: Understanding Google Maps & Yahoo Local Search » Google Maps: Will Edit Wars go Politically Postal? | Developing Knowledge about Local Search http://blumenthals.com/blog/2008/09/18/google-maps-widespread-hijacking-of-business-listings-confirmed/comment-page-1/#comment-282149 Understanding Google Maps & Yahoo Local Search » Google Maps: Will Edit Wars go Politically Postal? | Developing Knowledge about Local Search Mon, 10 Nov 2008 20:32:55 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=810#comment-282149 [...] edit hijackings started in the Payday Loan industries to create location confusion, moved onto theft in the floral industries, were highlighted with a bit of pranksterism with the Microsoft Escort [...] [...] edit hijackings started in the Payday Loan industries to create location confusion, moved onto theft in the floral industries, were highlighted with a bit of pranksterism with the Microsoft Escort [...]

]]> By: Understanding Google Maps & Yahoo Local Search » Microsoft’s listing in Google Maps Hijacked (oops by me) | Developing Knowledge about Local Search http://blumenthals.com/blog/2008/09/18/google-maps-widespread-hijacking-of-business-listings-confirmed/comment-page-1/#comment-278407 Understanding Google Maps & Yahoo Local Search » Microsoft’s listing in Google Maps Hijacked (oops by me) | Developing Knowledge about Local Search Thu, 30 Oct 2008 15:45:45 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=810#comment-278407 [...] week I spoke with Marc from podestabaldocchi.com, one of the florists in San Francisco that was hijacked in mid September in Google Maps. Two things struck me in the [...] [...] week I spoke with Marc from podestabaldocchi.com, one of the florists in San Francisco that was hijacked in mid September in Google Maps. Two things struck me in the [...]

]]> By: Understanding Google Maps & Yahoo Local Search » Google Map’s spam fighting efforts- if graded? | Developing Knowledge about Local Search http://blumenthals.com/blog/2008/09/18/google-maps-widespread-hijacking-of-business-listings-confirmed/comment-page-1/#comment-277445 Understanding Google Maps & Yahoo Local Search » Google Map’s spam fighting efforts- if graded? | Developing Knowledge about Local Search Mon, 27 Oct 2008 19:07:37 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=810#comment-277445 [...] recent cases of florist and brand hijackings were some of the most egregious examples of spam that I had seen in a while. I [...] [...] recent cases of florist and brand hijackings were some of the most egregious examples of spam that I had seen in a while. I [...]

]]> By: Robert http://blumenthals.com/blog/2008/09/18/google-maps-widespread-hijacking-of-business-listings-confirmed/comment-page-1/#comment-272092 Robert Wed, 15 Oct 2008 01:31:43 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=810#comment-272092 I have found numerous phony locksmith postings. Search the web for "phoenix locksmith" and of the current top 10 listing that show up in maps listings at the top of the page, 7 are of the same company (using two web addresses) and all locations are phony. A second company also lists a phony location making 8 of the top 10 bogus. The other two may be as well, but I have not yet invetigated them. I have found numerous phony locksmith postings. Search the web for “phoenix locksmith” and of the current top 10 listing that show up in maps listings at the top of the page, 7 are of the same company (using two web addresses) and all locations are phony. A second company also lists a phony location making 8 of the top 10 bogus. The other two may be as well, but I have not yet invetigated them.

]]>