The negative review has since been removed. Sadly, the story doesn’t end here. Ciao Plans left a 5-star review for Siesta Sea Moss & Juices. The review reads more like an advertisement than a review. Around the same time, TNT Productions left a 5-star rating. Google allows users to use an alias for their account. If these accounts are connected to the business, then these reviews violate Google’s TOS.

This isn’t my only concern. The business replied to another negative review with “we hope you reconsider your 1-star review and would be happy to offer 10% off your next order with us.” This clearly violates Google’s TOS.

We do not allow merchants to:

• Offer incentives – such as payment, discounts, free goods and/or services – in exchange for posting any review or revision or removal of a negative review.

While I understand that people don’t like negative reviews, the way Siesta Sea Moss & Juices handles them crosses the line.

The post Think twice before ordering from Siesta Sea Moss & Juices. first appeared on Review Fraud.

Portland Chimney Sweep Repairs has two AI photos uploaded to the GBP. One is supposed to be the exterior of the business. The AI image removed the two cars from the original Street View image and made the garage taller to fit the business signage.

Only a few GBPs have uploaded photos. 11 GBPs are unclaimed. Seven of the GBPs were removed from Google. Six have been marked as closed and will no longer appear on Google. That leaves 113 GBPs taking up space on Google. Time will tell how long it takes for these profiles to list a telephone number or a website.

I’ve seen a major increase in spam networks over the past year. Spammers can create these spam GBPs with no issues. They are flooding them with fake photos and reviews. Some of those networks belong to Legacy Healing Center and Milestone Treatment Center. Google needs to investigate how these GBPs are being created and shut down this loophole.

The post Spammers are flooding Portland with fake Chimney Cleaning Google Business Profiles first appeared on Review Fraud.

The website was registered on July 2, 2026. The Wayback Machine has only one saved version of the website, from October 15, 2026. The GBPs were created as early as August. I have been told that people behind this network are calling around to sell the leads coming in.

Only three other domains use the same server as GatesHelp. One is for a garage door company, one is for a locksmith, and one is for a dryer vent and chimney service. None of them were saved with Wayback Time Machine. I called all four numbers. The phone numbers for the locksmith, chimney, and garage door websites greeted me with the same recorded message thanking me for calling local garage door service. When I called the number for the garage door website, the caller ID was set to Garage Door Repair of Midtown East Inc. I googled 877 846 3222 and found this GBP. There is only one photo from April 2026. There is no website linked to the GBP. All four websites claim to be kiosks.

Something is rotten in Denmark. If you are looking for a garage door company, you need to do your homework to avoid a scam or lead generation network.

The post GatesHelp Garage Door Service is Spamming Google first appeared on Review Fraud.

Somebody attempted to mark her business as closed. She rejected that edit. Her map pin has been moved to the Gulf of Guinea. The Gulf of Guinea is off the coast of West Africa, south of Ghana. Somehow, people were able to trick Google into thinking her business is connected to the Amazon Locker – astina’s GBP. This GBP is supposed to be located in Madrid, Spain. Did spammers also edit and move the Amazon Locker map pin?

When I spoke with Ashley, she said she and 60 other photography GBPs were suspended back in June. Now spammers have updated the map pin for 25 GBP to show they are located off the coast of Africa. Luckily, this hack doesn’t move the business to its new location. My friend Darren Shaw tried it and showed that it doesn’t work. Here is Darren’s YouTube video breaking down this alleged hack.

Another variation in June 2024 moved map pins for various personal injury lawyers’ GBPs into the Pacific Ocean and onto Catalina Island. This hack worked because the businesses were showing the address. The impacted businesses in Chicago are hiding their addresses. You can’t edit or update the address for a GBP that doesn’t show the address. This is a wasted effort. However, these edits can still lead to a GBP needing to complete video verification or triggering suspension.

The post Are Black Hats Targeting Photographers in Chicago? first appeared on Review Fraud.

The GBPs are using addresses where they are not located. The GBPs don’t have any photos and have between zero and two reviews. The reviewers have reviewed the GBP and a random restrurant.

The websites have generic content, photos and staff information.

I decided to call several of them this morning. The first person claimed she works with multiple facilties throughout Calfornia. The others I called advised me that I was speaking with Milestone. When I first call the number, the message advises that I am calling Addiction Treatment Hotline. I am asked if I am seeking inpatient treatment for alcohol or drug addiction press one all other callers press two. When I press two I am presented with, “sorry we offer rehab inpatient treatments for drug and alcohol only, please call SAMHSA nation help line…” and then I am hung up on. It appears that my cell phone number was blocked because after I pressed one, it rang several times and hung up the call. I used my Google number and got the call to connect. After the agent would connect, I ended the call. I recieved a call back from Tyler. He was kind enough to leave me a voicemail which Google sends via email. “Good afternoon this is Tyler with the admissions office You just called in but I think we got disconnected If you could give us a call back at 8564062829 Thank you”

These GBPs violate Google’s TOS for A. listing an address where they are not located, B. for not using their real business name, and C. for having fake reviews. I don’t know how they were able to get verified, but whoever set them up, knows how to bypass Google’s verification system. I have been hearing complaints about a rise in fraudulent GPBs across the United States. Some of these GBPs appear to be a year old. I looked at the dates the domain were registered. They were registered between October 31, 2025 and May 19, 2026.

I checked the ownership of the GBPs. Google only shows the first two letters of the email address. There are several emails managing these GBPs.

There is one GBP which is an outlier. That is Los Angeles Detox Specialists – Addiction Treatment and Recovery. The domain was registerd on October 13, 2025. It has eight reviews. The oldest review mentions Solutions Addiction Treatment and Recovery. They exhibt signs of the same review patterns. I wonder if they were the first recipents or if this was a mistake by the people writing and posting the reviews.

Time will tell if more GBPs pop up or if Google removes them.

Here are the names of the lead generation GBPs I found:
TSL Rehab – Mental Health Advisory & Addiction Treatment Services
TSL Rehab – Mental Health Advisory & Addiction Treatment Services
MCHS Rehab – Addiction Treatment & Behavioral Helpline
RBIH Rehab – Addiction Treatment Support & Behavioral Health Advisors
ABH Rehab – Addiction Treatment & Care Helpline
HLHR Rehab – Addiction Treatment & Mental Health Care
MHAC – Mental Health Advisors & Care California
MNDA Recovery – Addiction Treatment & Detox
PMH Helpline – Addiction Treatment & Behavioral Health Support
ALRA Rehab – Mental Health Advisory & Addiction Treatment Services
MTN Rehab – Addiction Treatment Specialists
BTH Detox – Addiction Treatment & Wellness Line
KAH Helpline – Addiction & Mental Health Treatment Specialists
HRM Detox – Mental Health Care & Addiction Treatment
Bakersfield Addiction Treatment Advisors & Wellness
SFLN Rehab – Addiction Treatment & Behavioral Advisors
BLWC Rehab – Addiction Treatment & Behavioral Care
VBS Detox Services – Substance Abuse Addiction Treatment
NDMH Detox – Mental Health Care & Addiction Treatment Services
RHAH Rehab – Health Advisors & Addiction Treatment Helpline
SRS Helpline – Addiction Treatment Specialists
PMHL Rehab – Addiction Treatment & Behavioral Health Support
PBD Rehab – Wellness & Addiction Treatment Service
MSH Mental Support – Helpline & Addiction Treatment Specialists
TMH Rehab Helpline – Addiction Treatment & Care
SWL Rehab – Addiction Treatment & Mental Health Helpline
LMN Addiction Treatment & Care Helpline
WSYH Rehabilitation & Addiction Treatment Specialists
EKE Detox Advisors – Addiction Treatment & Recovery Helpline
HLJ Healing & Wellness Addiction Treatment Helpline
YKN Helpline – Addiction Treatment and Recovery
NBBA – Addiction Treatment & Wellness
MHS Rehab – Drug & Alcohol Detox & Addiction Treatment Services
BTR Helpline – Addiction Treatment & Detox Advisors
ATLAS Recovery – Behavioral Health Care & Addiction Treatment Service
TGT Treatment – Detox & Addiction Recovery Services
HRM Detox – Mental Health Care & Addiction Treatment
MDCR Rehab – Behavioral Health Care & Addiction Treatment Specialists
IBT Rehab – Addiction Treatment Service & Behavioral Health Care
MAHP Rehab Addiction Treatment Service & Behavioral Care
MHDT Helpline – Mental Care & Addiction Treatment
MMH Rehab – Mental Health & Addiction Helpline
AXIS Rehab – Mental Health & Addiction Care Specialists
MHS Rehab – Addiction Treatment Care Specialists
OPN Detox – Addiction Treatment & Wellness
NTH Rehab – Behavioral Health & Addiction Treatment Specialists
MKSP Detox – Behavioral & Addiction Treatment Specialists
NTH Rehab – Behavioral Health & Addiction Treatment Specialists
TRC Detox Specialists – Addiction Treatment and Recovery
Drug and Alcohol Addiction Treatment SFC
HBH Helpline – Addiction Treatment & Behavioral Health Care Specialists
MKL Rehab – Addiction Treatment Helpline & Wellness
RRA Mental Health Care & Addiction Treatment Advisors
BHS Rehab – Advisors & Addiction Care
HH Helpline – Detox & Addiction Treatment Service
Healing Steps – Addiction Treatment Advisors & Helpline
MDCR Rehab – Behavioral Health Care & Addiction Treatment Specialists
BLS Detox – Addiction Treatment & Mental Health Support
BLS Detox – Addiction Treatment & Mental Health Specialists
Los Angeles Detox Specialists – Addiction Treatment and Recovery

These GBPs and websites violate consumer protection laws. The FTC could redress Milestone over this practice. The New Jersey attorney General could go after them as well. Milestone doesn’t have any facilities in California. They would need people to fly to one of its facilties in New Jersey, Texas, or Virginia. I am not sure at what point in the conversation is the person told that they need to need leave California or that they are talking to an admissions person with Milestone. The employees don’t immediately state that you are speaking a Milestone employee. Sadly this is nothing new. I have written about Legacy Healing’s lead generation network in the past. There have been other write-ups about this practice. Whitesands got caught doing this.

Milestone needs to be held accountable and redressed over this pracite to send a strong messsage. People working in addiction treatment need to be held to a higher standard. They need to stop lying to prospect patients or family members looking for help for a loved one.

The post Does Milestone Treatment Center know where its leads come from? first appeared on Review Fraud.

UGA is setting up Google Business Profiles (GBPs) across the United States. There is nothing wrong with that. The issue is how UGA is doing it. First, they aren’t using the name US Ghost Adventures on their GBPs. They are using names similar to competitors. Unless they have a DBA, they can’t use Baltimore Ghost Tours: Ghost Tours and Haunted Pub Crawls. That is not the only issue. They aren’t located at many of the addresses they are using. Some of the addresses are incomplete or improperly formatted. They do seem to be creating brand confusion with the mom-and-pop businesses. The keywords in their business name give them an unfair advantage over businesses that play by the rules.

In Mason’s video, Mason showed how UGA is preventing negative reviews. After someone completes the tour, they receive a text asking how they liked it. If you rate positively, you are asked to leave a review on Google. If you rate the tour poorly, you are asked to leave private feedback. This is called review-gating. This practice violates Google’s TOS. Google has removed reviews from businesses that use review-gating. UGA could lose reviews connected to this video’s posting or dating back to April 2018. The review link comes from Ijunket, which redirects to wejunket. Both companies are owned by the same person, Lance Zaal. The video shows someone who had a bad tour experience being directed to leave a negative review on a competitor’s GBP. That’s shady. This appears to barely scratch the surface. I am hearing more horror stories.

When people created a GBP, if you show your address, Google would send out a pin postcard. They have ended this program and switched over to video verification. For some reason, Google is allowing GBPs with “tour operator” as their primary category to be verified instantly. This gives UGA carte blanche to create new GBPs. There are no checks and balances here. Mason created a GBP, and so did I. UGA can flood any market with GBPs. Yes, it can get worse.

It does get worse with UGA. Two review profiles are questionable: Lou Gazelle and Anna B. Lou left a review for Zonic Media. Lou and Anna left a negative review for the same restaurant. Anna left a review for UGA in Fall River, MA. Anna also left negative reviews for two competitors. Sadly, one competitor lost all its reviews. One of UGA’s GBPs has its reviews. A GBP Product Expert (PE) advised the business owner that people were using malicious edits to update the phone number and address. The phone number belonged to UGA. Google suspended them after they lost their reviews. Their reviews have been missing from their profile for three months. UGA responded to several of the reviews. Talk about adding insult to injury.

US Ghost Adventures: the unfriendly ghost

One of UGA’s competitors has been dealing with years of headaches. Baltimore Ghost Tours has had people call them after becoming confused with UGA’s GBP. UGA has changed their GBP name from Us Ghost Adventure – Baltimore to Baltimore Ghost Tours: Ghost Tours and Haunted Pub Crawls. The owner of the real Baltimore Ghost Tours has a DBA. UGA is infringing on their business name. Someone edited the UGA GBP in August 2023 to change the name to Baltimore Ghost Tours. They changed the address and website to match the real Baltimore Ghost Tours. These edits appear to have tricked Google into marking the real Baltimore Ghost Tours as a duplicate. Google moved the real Baltimore Ghost Tours’ reviews over to the UGA GBP. UGA’s The real Baltimore Ghost Tours has lost its reviews on two separate occasions. GBP is the only one to show up for the search term Baltimore Ghost Tours. The real Baltimore Ghost Tours has lost not only all its reviews but also its online presence. Somebody connected to UGA replied to all of Baltimore Ghost Tours’ reviews.

I have found 215 GBPs connected to UGA using various names. They are using 37 different websites. The names being used on GBP appear to be used for an unfair ranking advantage. Google places a major emphasis on the business name for ranking. These names appear to violate Google’s TOS. If UGA hasn’t registered these names or has a DBA, they are violating the name guidelines. Several of the addresses don’t appear to be UGA offices. Eight of the addresses are incomplete and don’t list a street number. Both of these TOS violations can lead to an account-level suspension. Google would blacklist the associated email address and suspend all GBPs.

Hopefully, Google will take action and require all GBPs using tour operator as a primary category to complete video verification. Google needs to suspend and remove all of the UGA GBPs and restore Baltimore Ghost Tours’ reviews.

The post US Ghost Adventures has a Spooky Story to tell first appeared on Review Fraud.

Several of the Google reviews appeared to be coached. Reviewers are mentioning the substances they struggled with, along with the type of insurance they have. I was recently alerted to an addiction treatment facility making it mandatory for each patient to leave a review before they leave. I don’t have evidence that this image is related to Titan Recovery Center, but the reviews do fit what is being suggested here. Titan has recieved two new reviews since this image was leaked.

This practice is not a HIPAA violation. Google allows users to use an alias and hide their review profiles. This practice does violate Google’s TOS. Google views it as review manipulation. Google states, “When soliciting reviews, merchants should not require or pressure users to leave ratings or write reviews while on the premises, nor should they request that specific content be included.” Any business caught doing this can lose its reviews, receive a consumer alert, and lose the ability to get new reviews for 60 days.

Titan’s Facebook recommendations are not real. On May 5th, 2026, Josh Bension recommended Titan Recovery Center. Josh wrote recommendations for ATX Commercial Roofing Pros, Dentist SEOPals, Elite Transportation ATX, Architect SEOPals, SplashTown ATX – Lake Travis Boat Rentals, Miami Nights Party Bus, and Austin Nites Party Bus. ATX Commercial Roofing Pros, Dentist SEOPals, Architect SEOPals, SplashTown ATX – Lake Travis Boat Rentals, and Miami Nights Party Bus all left recommendations for Titan. Josh Bension and Josh Benson have liked several Facebook posts. A user named Joshua Benson left a Google review on August 12, 2026. Josh Benison stated that his sister was treated for Xanax.

I am highly suspicious of Titan’s reviews. You should be. too.

The post Can you trust Titan Recovery Center? first appeared on Review Fraud.

For starters, the address Awesome Leads uses for their GBP belongs to the United States Postal Service. Using this address violates Google’s TOS. They should never have been able to get verified by Google. Google states, “Use a precise, accurate address and/or service area to describe your business location. P.O. boxes or mailboxes located at remote locations aren’t acceptable.” Awesome Leads is not registered with the Secretary of State in Texas. Awesome Leads does not list its address on the website.

The footer includes a link to their review page with the anchor tag honest reviews. The website text reads, “Every review we have, good and unfinished No bought reviews, no stock photos, no invented names. We publish what real clients wrote us, with the ranking result attached so you can check it yourself.” There are two reviews, one from Dog Dash Dog Walk and one from Chritianperez.co. Both companies belong to Christian Perez. Christian is using the same phone number for all three businesses.

Awesome Leads is pulling the review count for Google and Facebook. The website and Google show 26 Facebook recommendations and two Google reviews. Facebook is showing 23 recommendations. I found several suspicious activities with the Facebook profiles that recommended Awesome Leads. Ten of these profiles claim to be Digital Creators. These profiles show no activity. Several of these profiles have reviewed the same businesses. Those businesses are LR Pool Remodeling, Pro Touch Remodeling, Shavonya Group, Dog Dash, and Christian Perez CO.

Christian Perez CO lists Queens, NY, as the address on Facebook. The website lists 320 7th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215. This address belongs to The UPS Store. I can’t find a GBP for this business. Dog Dash lists the address as 1078 Summit Ave Unit 398, Jersey City, NJ 07307. This address belongs to DHL. They rent private mailboxes. Christian has three businesses in three different states, and they all use a PO Box. All three websites were registered with Private Whois. Dog Dash was registered on January 10, 2026. ChristianPerez was registered on February 26, 2026. Awesome Leads was registered on January 20, 2026. The Reddit profile was created on January 20, 2026.

On the ChristianPerez website, Christian states that he is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Does he have any issues with fake Facebook reviews and Facebook likes, or with violating Google’s TOS? I emailed Christian to respond to my allegations. As of this writing, Christian hasn’t responded to my email. He did create a post on Reddit since I reached out.

Update:

Shortly after I published this post and posted on Reddit, Christian left a comment at 11:31 AM PDT. In his reply, he wrote, “Hey, that’s me — Christian Perez, Awesome Leads Local SEO. Direct answer: I don’t do fake reviews, never have. My whole business is helping real local businesses get found on Google, and faking reviews would be the fastest way to torch that. Dog Dash Dog Walking was my other business, retired from active work this month. This post doesn’t show a single fake review, because there aren’t any. If anyone’s got an actual one, post it.” I followed up with two comments. In my first comment, I wrote, “I reached out to you prior to publishing and you failed to respond. You have failed to address how you have two GBPs using PO Boxes. I have screenshots of all 23 profiles who reviewed you and your three businesses. On your Christian Perez Website you still taking about how you are a dog walker. If you did retire from dog waking, A. Why does your website still talk about dog waking, and B. Why is your Dog Dash Dog Walking GBP not marked as permanently closed?” In my second reply, I furnished links to the Facebook recommendations, “Here we go:
David Arnold
Tim Allan
Victor Rutherford
Robert Forsyth
Charles Ball
Christian Morrison
Dominic Dickens
John Chapman
Charles Butler
Olivia Hardacre
Justin Fisher
Matt Vance
Matt Ellison
Trevor Nolan
Carl Stewart
Gabrielle Manning
William Short
Colin Parrd
Jasmine Harris
Simon Taylor
Jason Fraser
Lucas Grant

I have screenshots to back up my claims.”

Christian has not replied to either comment. Instead, Christian emailed me 15 minutes later asking me to remove this and the Reddit post. He threatened legal action. I replied and have not heard back.

The post Is Awesome Leads Local SEO Really That Awesome first appeared on Review Fraud.

This is not the first time the business has been called out over the use of AI images. In another subreddit somebody asked if Enzo’s Brick Oven Pizza was back or under new ownership. A user by the name of EnzosBrickOven started replying. The replies did not help the cause. It is unknown if this Reddit profile is associated with the business or an online troll.

Several reviews have been posted since the reply was posted on Twitter. Some are supportive of the business, while others are not. The negative reviews are met with insults and colorful language. The replies and Reddit account aren’t helping any.

This is not the first time I have seen a negative review because a business is using AI images at their business. I have seen two negative reviews for Broad Nosh Bagels where the reviews cited the use of AI photos and videos at the location. We are in the midst of the AI blacklash. Just liek consumers want to see authentic reviews, they want to see real photos. Businesses need to be aware of consumer sentiment and avoid the use of AI images. While Google should remove reviews where the reviewer complains about the use of AI images, people will share their opinions on social media.

Enzo’s Brick Oven Pizza has three Reddit threada about the business. One of them shows up at the top of Google. If people click on the link and see the comments, they may choose to go elsewehere. This business may not be around for long. I wouldn’t go based on the threats of violence.

The post Enzo’s Brick Oven Pizza Attacks Reviewer over Negative Review over AI Images first appeared on Review Fraud.

When I first looked at the Metairie Auto Accident Attorney GBP, it had a 5-star rating with 12 reviews. They don’t link to a website. The first review was posted on August 27, 2026. Regina Munoz has only written two Google reviews. The other review is for Local Concrete of Statesville. Regina’s profile is set to private. Scott Brown wrote one other review for DFW Outdoor and Landscape Lighting. Charles Kalish wrote one other review for Elite Minnetonka Plumber. alice namusooko wrote one other review for Albany Plumber Squad. Scott, Charles, and alice have all set their profiles to private. This prevents people from seeing the other businesses they have reviewed. I can see their unlocked profiles.

Another GBP I found is New Orleans Truck Accident Attorney. When I called, somebody identified themselves as Ray and asked if I had been involved in an accident. Ray didn’t answer as New Orleans Truck Accident Attorney or Alexander Shunnarah Trial Attorneys. The New Orleans Truck Accident Attorney also has AI photos and a short AI video testimony. In the video, the person never states a law firm’s name.

New Orleans Truck Accident Attorney has a 5-star rating with 12 reviews. Susie Summers wrote a review for Edinburg Car Accident Lawyer. Edinburg Car Accident Lawyer links to an Alexander Shunnarah Trial Attorneys branded website. Annie Clemmons wrote a review for Irving Drainage Pros. Ben Huff wrote a review for Paver Cleaning & Seal Pros of Amityville. Joyce Heimann wrote a review for Grand Patios, Landscape & Outdoor Remodels of Mansfield. Micheal Nyende wrote a review for Dallas Credit Repair Pros. Susie, Annie, Ben, Joyce, and Micheal have set their profile to private.

Edinburg Car Accident Lawyer has a 5-star rating with 12 reviews. It also includes AI photos of employees and accidents, plus an AI video testimonial. In the video testimonial, the person stated the firm’s name as Edinburg Car Accident Lawyer. Only EYAGU PAUL left a 5-star rating for Grapevine Landscaping. EYAGU set their profile to private. The Edinburg Car Accident Lawyer website is set to noindex. They don’t want Google indexing the website.

The post Alexander Shunnarah Trial Attorneys is Spamming Google Maps first appeared on Review Fraud.