Scammers are targeting businesses with a new extortion scheme, and Google Maps is fighting back with a dedicated reporting tool.
Google has introduced a feature that allows business owners to report ransom demands directly to malicious actors who threaten them with fake negative reviews.
Cybercriminals have developed a sophisticated plan to extort money from businesses through Google Maps reviews.
The scheme begins with “review-bombing,” where bad actors flood a business profile with fake one-star reviews designed to bypass Google’s moderation systems.
Once the attack launches, scammers contact business owners through third-party messaging apps and demand payment.
The threat is simple but effective: pay the fee, or the negative reviews stay and potentially escalate, damaging the business’s reputation and online rating.
This type of extortion exploits the importance of online reviews for modern businesses.
A sudden drop in ratings can significantly erode customer trust and revenue, leaving some business owners feeling pressured to pay rather than risk further damage.
Google’s Response to the Threat
Google Maps has implemented clear policies prohibiting fake engagement, harassment, extortion, and harmful content.
The platform actively monitors for violations and removes content that breaks these rules.
However, the new reporting feature represents a more direct response to the growing extortion problem.
The company is currently rolling out an official merchant extortion report form that allows business owners to alert Google to ransom demands quickly.
This streamlined reporting process enables the company to take swift action against malicious actors attempting to manipulate the review system for financial gain.
Security experts recommend that business owners never engage with extortionists or pay ransom demands, as doing so only encourages further attacks.
Instead, businesses should immediately report malicious activity using Google’s official merchant extortion report form.
Business owners should preserve all evidence of extortion attempts, including screenshots, emails, and chat logs.
These records can support law enforcement investigations and help Google identify patterns of abuse across multiple targets.
The review extortion scheme highlights how scammers continue to find new ways to exploit online platforms.
Google’s proactive approach to the reporting feature demonstrates the ongoing battle between platform providers and cybercriminals to protect businesses and consumers from digital fraud.
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