Businesses: Did you recently get a call from Google or Apple Maps?
Local businesses have reported a surge in telemarketing calls from Google and Apple Maps. Unfortunately, these calls are almost always telemarketing pitches, not calls from Google or Apple, says online marketing expert Scott Brennan, owner of Access Publishing. He says telemarketing companies are aggressively flooding voicemail boxes with unwanted spam calls and messages. “Be wary of these types of phone calls,” he says. “They are not actual calls from Apple Maps or Google. They are usually scams.”
Call from telemarketer about Apple Maps
“Hi, this is Sally calling to help verify your new Apple Maps business listing. If you are the business owner and would like to have your business listed in Apple Maps, press 1 now. If you do not want your business listed in Apple Maps press 2 now. Press 1 to be listed in Apple Maps. Press 2 to decline.”
There is a very high probability that the business is already listed on Apple Maps, Brennan says. “Apple has already uploaded its data from Yelp, Localeze and other sources. If a business is not listed, it’s easy to check and update it.”
Call from telemarketer about Google business listing
“This is the Google Maps status service provider calling to verify recent changes to your Google Local listing. Press 1 to be connected to a live agent. Press 2 to be removed from this calling index.”
The computer-generated voice is implying a threat that is false, Brennan says. “When you press 1 you are connected to a sales representative from a third-party company trying to sell over-priced and unnecessary services. We have already helped a local business cancel a ridiculously high-priced service agreement,” says Brennan. His local company offers web design and online marketing service that includes optimizing Google and Apple Maps listings.
“One defense against these types of calls is to add your business to the Do Not Call List national registry,” Brennan says. “If calls continue, tell the telemarketers to add your number to their ‘do not call list’.”
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