Maps Guide Jen responded today to one of the reports of Mapspam in NYC:

TOPIC: Scam Using Google Local http://groups.google.com/group/Google-Maps-For-Business-Owners/browse_thread/thread/2ec66a24df6021b4?hl=en
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== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Tues, Dec 11 2007 2:37 pm
From: “Maps Guide Jen”

We’re looking into this and will take appropriate steps to make sure the
businesses on Google Maps are represented fairly.

Thanks for letting us know,
Jen

On Nov 30, 2007 3:10 PM, Chris wrote:

>
> It recently came to my attention that a certain website
> (www.newyearseve.com) recently registered about a hundred different
> “businesses” on Google Local with different major nightclub, names all
> using variations of the same address:
>
> 133 West 25th Street New York, NY 10001
>
> They don’t actually own any of these nightclubs, it’s just a scam to
> trick users to buy tickets from them. An example of this is Webster
> Hall
>
>
> http://maps.google.com/maps?f=l&abauth=96173e12%3A5flz0VneqLN9IaRtOrI-C2ziXSI&view=text&hl=en&q=webster+hall&near=New+York%2C+NY&btnG=Search+Businesses
>
> One of these is the real Webster Hall, the other is a trick. Can
> anything be done about this type of scam? These types of tactics are
> hurting legitimate businesses.