What is Google Maps Pin Moving Scam and How to Fix It?

A black hat trick used in local SEO involves changing Google Maps locations, which creates confusion for local businesses. For customers, it can be really frustrating to go to a place only to discover it doesn’t exist, even though Google said it would be there.

The restaurant with the awesome dinner menu is closed for good. The mechanic that Google Maps said was only a 10-minute drive is not seen anywhere. These situations can be really annoying when you’re hungry or have a flat tire, but they are even more difficult for the business.

Irritated customers usually won’t come back for a second visit. They might talk to their friends about it or write a negative review online. But what’s the issue, and how can you prevent it from happening to your Google Maps pin. Let us look at Google Maps pin moving scam in this post.

What is the Google Maps Pin Moving Scam?

If your Google Maps location changed by itself, you might have been affected by the Google Maps pin scam. There have been stories about this trick being used against local businesses that didn’t see it coming since early 2024.

This scam is really clever in how simple it is. Using the ‘Suggest an Edit’ option below all map listings, someone with bad intentions changes a map location without the business knowing or agreeing to it.

The scammer moves the pin to a different place, usually far away, to trick Google and people searching for that business into thinking it’s in a different location. Anyone can use the ‘Suggest an Edit’ option, so it’s not surprising that some dishonest SEOs are taking advantage of it.

Also Read: How to rank first on Google Map?

Why is this a Concern for Businesses?

The Google Maps pin scam is a problem for several reasons. Google won’t let you know if someone tries to change your business location or moves your map pin in a bad way. If you don’t know, you can’t do anything to fix the problem.

The biggest problem is that it can greatly hurt how easily people can find you online in local searches. If your pin shifts, your spot changes too. This means people searching in your area won’t be able to find your business anymore.

This can greatly affect your rankings, and you might see a big drop in them. Not being visible could also mean you will get less website visitors. Fewer people might visit your store, and your sales could drop.

Keep an eye out for unexpected changes in your rankings using Local Search Grid. If all your local rankings change to red, it might mean that your location pin has been moved. We should also think about how annoying it might be.

As we said before, if a customer goes to a place they believe is your business but you aren’t there, it can hurt your reputation. The 2023 Local Business Discovery and Trust report showed that 62% of shoppers would steer clear of a business if they saw wrong information online.

You’re not only missing out on revenue and a chance to gain a loyal customer, but you might also see negative reviews increasing, even if it’s not your fault. It’s a cycle that keeps going by itself and could lead to big financial problems.

Also Read: Is there SEO for Google Maps?

How Can I Fix the Google Maps Pin Moving Scam Issue?

You might notice that this bad trick has affected you when it’s too late, your local search rankings fall, and you get fewer calls, sales, and visits to your website. The best way to protect yourself is to take action before something happens.

Make it a habit to check your Google Business listing often to make sure all the information is correct. If you’ve been tricked by this scam, you should change your pin back to where your real business is located. You can do this by copying what the scammers do.

Step 1: Use an email that is not linked to your Google Business Profile. If you use an official email address, you will need to complete the GBP verification process all over again. If you use a different email address, this should get sorted out quicker. You could also ask a Google Local Guide to help if you know one well.

Step 2: Look for your business, maybe by its name, if you’re having trouble finding the exact location on the map.

Step 3: Click on ‘Suggest an edit,’ then select ‘Change name or other details’.

Step 4: Move the pin to your actual location, or type in your real address manually.

Step 5: Save the change.

Tracking and Rejecting Changes

Google hasn’t said officially how to stop it, but there is a choice in ‘Business Profile settings’ that might help. Google’s instructions on “updating your Google Business Profile” let you “accept” changes they make to different parts of your profile.

The documents say that “Google gets information from different places, like user reports and licensed content,” to update things like your business hours and details on your Google Business Profile.

One of the choices you have is the “Map marker”. Although it doesn’t directly mention the ‘Suggest an edit’ feature, it likely refers to that with the term ‘user reports’. You can choose to automatically ‘accept,’ ‘edit,’ ‘edit and send again,’ or just ‘discard’ the updates. To make changes to this, follow these steps:

Step 1: Click on the kebab menu on NMX in your profile and choose ‘Business Profile settings’.

Step 2: Go to your ‘Linked accounts’ and then click on ‘Businesses’ in the menu on the side.

Step 3: Pick the business you want to change and click on ‘Actions’ when you see it.

Step 4: In the ‘Google updates’ area, choose ‘Accept’.

Step 5: You will be able to see a list of choices below. We suggest that you don’t click ‘clear selection’. Uncheck ‘Map marker’. This can help make you aware of this scam.

Step 6: Press accept. But, this will stop any automatic updates to your map marker, even if they are correct.

To Conclude

The Google Maps Pin Moving Scam is a trick where scammers use the “Suggest an Edit” feature to change a business’s location pin to a new spot, usually far away, without the owner’s knowledge or permission.

This can cause big problems, like less visibility in local searches, fewer visitors to the website and store, and possible harm to the business’s reputation. People who use Google Maps might get upset and leave bad reviews if they see that a business has been “moved”.

Even though Google knows about this problem, they haven’t found a lasting solution yet. Businesses need to stay alert, check their Google Maps listings often, and quickly fix any wrong changes to reduce problems in their operations.

FAQs

How can businesses find out if their pin has been moved?

Businesses can find out if their pin has been moved by frequently checking their Google Maps listing for any changes they didn’t make. They should pay attention to any sudden decrease in visitors or complaints from customers about having trouble finding their place. Creating alerts for changes in their listing can help them quickly notice any unusual activity.

What should companies do if their pin has changed location?

If a business’s pin has been moved, the owner should quickly sign into their Google My Business account to fix the location. They should also tell Google about the changes they didn’t make using the support options available. Documenting what happened and any related effects can be helpful when trying to solve the problem. It’s important to check the listing often to make sure no other changes are made without permission.

How can businesses keep their Google Maps listing from changing locations?

Businesses can keep their Google Maps listing safe by checking their GMB account often and setting up alerts for any changes. They need to make sure their account is safe by using two-step verification. Teaching staff about possible scams and asking them to report anything suspicious can also be helpful. Also, taking control of your business listing and checking it can help you manage the information shown.

How does Google deal with reports of scams involving pin moving?

When Google gets reports about pin moving scams, they look into the claims and fix the listing if needed. Google might try to stop more illegal changes from happening and could punish the people behind the scam. But how well these actions work can be different, and some businesses may need to stay on top of things consistently.

Does the pin moving scam have any lasting effects on a business?

The pin moving scam can harm a business’s reputation and make customers lose trust for a long time. Bad reviews and less visibility can take a while to improve, even after fixing the issue. The money lost from fewer customers can cause ongoing problems. We need to stay alert and take action to stop more problems and regain customers’ trust.

SEO Company in lucknow