Sphinn - Marriott, Hertz & Avis Hijacked in Google Maps

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Marriott, Hertz & Avis Hijacked in Google Maps - Affiliate Mapspam Continues

Went Hot: October 15, 2008 - 1:15 am
Posted By: mblumenthal 48 days ago
Topic Type: News Story (Jump to http://searchengineland.com)
Category: Google Searching

Google's community edit feature has become the playground for blackhat local marketers. Any business that has not been claimed and validated is susceptible to hijacking, and the affiliate spammers have hijacked some of the best known national brands in the US.

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from andrewsho 48 days ago #

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Mike, I think Google should get you on the payroll as the full time Map spam man as it seems like you are better at spotting this stuff than they are!

from mblumenthal 48 days ago #

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Andrew
That's only because I look every once in a while. :)
I would gladly hang up my spurs on this one but every time I think that I can kick back, one worse than the last one shows up.
Mike

from MiriamEllis 48 days ago #

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Much needed documentation of a very big problem, Mike. The fact that the florists AND these major corporations are all being used as the playthings of the same spammer is just incredible. Think of the vast quanities of business being lost to its rightful recipients because of this weakness in Google's system! Makes my head spin.

Miriam

from Chris1 48 days ago #

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This is a huge problem that Google needs to addess asap!

from bbcarter 48 days ago #

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Killer story, Mike, good stuff.

from mblumenthal 48 days ago #

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@Miriam
The bedrock of a capitalist society is protection of property. In this case that property is moving from its rightful recipients to those who have done nothing but change a record in Google. Hardly the trust base that is needed for Local to work.
@Chris1Yes it is a huge problem and even more puzzling is why these hijackers weren't shut down after the discovery of the florist hijackings but let to operate by Google...go figure.
@ BBThanks
Mike

from topfmodel 47 days ago #

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YES, We have the same problem with various companies in Leipzig, Germnay! Thats EVIL!

from christof 47 days ago #

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Great post. I've been wanting to write on this for months - one of our clients has been hit by local listing hijacking since May. At first we thought it was just an honest mistake, but in the end (after much head scratching and unanswered Google emails) had to call the 'hijacker' directly at his business and tell him to desist. Of course there was lots of denial, but there's no doubt he was leveraging our hard work to his own company's advantage. We can tell because since we called, our listing is back... untouched.

Google, please fix this problem!

Fast.

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