A call or email warns a small business owner that their Google Business listing is “unverified” or about to be suspended, and they must act now to keep showing up in search and maps. For anyone whose customers find them online, the threat is serious. It is also a scam, designed to take a fee, your login, or control of your listing. Our GetMyPassword team explains how to recognize a business listing scam.
How the scam works
Scammers contact business owners by phone, email, or text, claiming to be from Google or a “listing service” and warning that your business profile will be removed, suspended, or lose its ranking unless you verify or pay. They may ask for a fee to “claim” or “optimize” your free listing, request the verification code sent to your business, or push a link to a fake login page. With the code or your password, they can take over your profile — redirecting customers, changing your details, or holding it for ransom. The free listing they are “saving” was never in danger.
Red flags to watch for
- An urgent threat that your listing will be suspended or removed.
- A fee to “verify,” “claim,” or “optimize” a profile that is free.
- A request for the verification code sent to your business.
- An unsolicited caller claiming to be “Google” — which rarely cold-calls this way.
- A link to log in rather than your own business dashboard.
How real business listings work
Claiming and managing a Google Business Profile is free, and you do it yourself through the official business dashboard, not by paying a caller. Google does not cold-call demanding a fee to keep your listing live, and no one legitimate needs the verification code sent to you — that code is what proves you own the business, so handing it over hands them your listing. If you get such a call, hang up and manage your profile directly through the official tools. A “service” charging to protect a free listing is the scam.
Your business listing is free and yours to manage — no one needs to charge you to keep it alive. The verification code proves you own the business, so anyone asking you to read it out is trying to take it.
How to protect yourself
Never pay a fee or share a verification code to “keep” your listing, and manage your profile only through the official dashboard. Treat unsolicited “Google” calls with suspicion and verify independently. Secure the email and account tied to your business profile with two-factor authentication and a unique password from our password generator, since whoever controls that account controls your listing. If you shared a code or login, change your password and review who has access.
Frequently asked questions
Is a Google Business listing call a scam?
An unsolicited call or email threatening to suspend your listing unless you pay or share a verification code is a scam. Claiming and managing a Google Business Profile is free through the official dashboard, and Google does not cold-call demanding fees.
Should I share the verification code for my business?
Never. The verification code proves you own the business, so sharing it lets a scammer take over your listing. No legitimate service needs that code from you.
What if I paid or shared my login?
Dispute any fee with your card issuer, change the password on the account tied to your profile, and review who has access. Turn on two-factor authentication, and reclaim your listing through the official business tools if it was changed.