Latest news with #YanivAsayag
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Google says a scam network made thousands of fake businesses on Google Maps to collect and sell user data
Google is suing a man it says was part of a scam network creating fake businesses on Google Maps. The network allegedly collected and sold the personal data of users who contacted those businesses. It's an example of a 'lead generation" scam, according to the lawsuit. Google is suing a Maryland man it says made fake business listings on Google Maps. The lawsuit alleges that Yaniv Asayag, working with up to 20 co-conspirators, then sold the personal information of users who contacted those phony businesses. Google's complaint, filed this week in California federal court, says the group "engaged in an ongoing pattern of fraudulent conduct" by creating and modifying business listings on Google Maps and Google Search. Google General Counsel Halimah DeLaine Prado told Business Insider that Google does not allow fake business listings on Google Maps and uses a "range of tools to protect businesses and users." "Today's litigation builds on our efforts and sends a clear message that impersonation schemes will not be tolerated," Prado told BI. The lawsuit says that Asayag and his associates created listings for service-oriented businesses that provide an immediate need, like HVAC cleaners, towing companies, or locksmiths. They would then "lure in unsuspecting consumers" to the fake business pages, which they bolstered with fake reviews, Google alleged. They collected the personal information from consumers who contacted the fake businesses and sold it to marketers at real companies, the lawsuit says. That strategy is sometimes known as "lead generation," which can also be a legitimate marketing tactic when those leads are based on real data. In one high-profile example, a judge sentenced Jen Shah, a former star of "The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City," to more than six years in prison in 2023 after police charged her with wire fraud in connection to a telemarketing scheme where she generated and sold "lead lists" of innocent people to other scammers. In the Google lawsuit, one fake business listing the company identified was named "ByDennis Cleaner," which was changed to "MS Locksmith" one month after it was created. Google said that over the course of about a year, the network edited listings for almost 150 businesses more than 1,000 times. The alleged scammers sometimes sold users' personal information to real businesses that had a history of predatory behavior, like overcharging or extortion, according to Google's complaint. The lawsuit says that "abuse" among locksmith businesses due to lead generation scams is "well documented." The FTC says the best way to avoid becoming a victim is to check the URL for a business you want to contact. The agency recommends searching the URL, as well as the business name, with "reviews" or "complaints" to see if anyone has warned about the listing. There is no attorney listed yet for Asayag on the public court docket. Asayag declined to comment when reached by Business Insider on Friday. Read the original article on Business Insider
USA Today
21-03-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Google sues Maryland man, others for 'fake business listings,' accusations of selling data
Google sues Maryland man, others for 'fake business listings,' accusations of selling data Yaniv Asayag and his unidentified co-conspirators conducted the scheme for the past two years, Google's lawsuit is alleging. Show Caption Hide Caption Google hopes users harness power of AI to protect against cybercriminals Google is reportedly testing a new AI feature to generate passwords for compromised accounts through artificial intelligence. Straight Arrow News Google is suing a Maryland man and others for allegedly abusing the tech company's services to create fake online listings for phony businesses, bolstering said businesses with sham views from nonexistent people and selling the data of consumers who were lured in by the listings to third parties. The complaint obtained by USA TODAY accuses Yaniv Asayag, who owns the Beltsville, Maryland-based Eagle Locksmith and Eagle Services LLC , and his unidentified co-conspirators of the ploy that the company says has transpired over the past two years. He and the potential co-conspirators sold and posted fake reviews for businesses listed on Google Maps and Google Search, which violated Google's terms of service and California law, according to the court document. "Fake business listings are prohibited on Google Maps, and we use a range of tools to protect businesses and users," Halimah DeLaine Prado, Google general counsel, said in a statement to USA TODAY. "Today's litigation builds on our efforts and sends a clear message that impersonation schemes will not be tolerated.' Asayag and the group's "conduct harms consumers by giving them fake information aboutbusinesses and obscuring genuine reviews," Google said in the complaint filed Thursday in the Northern District of California. "The authenticity of these listings and reviews is essential to businesses, their customers, andGoogle," the complaint reads. "Online ratings and reviews, such as those found on Google Maps, play a crucial role in influencing the decisions of numerous potential customers when they are searching for businesses to engage with." USA TODAY contacted Asayag and his businesses on Thursday but did not receive a response. What is Google alleging that Yaniv Asayag, his potential co-conspirators did? Google is alleging that Asayag and his potential co-conspirators engaged in a fraudulent lead-generation scheme involving the creation of fake business profiles and the editing of pre-existing business profiles, according to the complaint. During the scheme, the group would target locksmiths and other service businesses that assist with immediate needs, such as HVAC cleaners and towing companies, the complaint reads. "Customers seeking these services are particularly vulnerable to being harmed by fake profiles and reviews, as bad actors take advantage of the urgency of the customer's need to make a profit," according to the court document. Once the sham businesses were created, the complaint says Asayag directed the unidentified co-conspirators to post fake reviews on Google services. From early 2023 to May 2024, Asayag edited listings at least 1,034 times, covering listings for at least 149 different purported businesses, primarily in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, according to the court document. After Asayag collected consumers' data, he sold the information as "leads" to real businesses that actually provided the services the individual was initially seeking, the complaint reads. Are lead-generation schemes illegal? Lead-generation schemes, which involve attracting customers and getting their contact information to convert them into customers, are not inherently illegal, DataGuard, a cybersecurity company, says. Issues concerning the scheme arise when the business utilizing it sells the data of consumers without proper consent or for deceptive purposes, as this could violate laws, the company said. One of the federal laws it could violate includes the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, which restricts telemarketing calls and texts in the U.S., according to the Federal Communications Commission. How can people protect themselves from scams? According to Google, to protect themselves from scams, including fraudulent lead-generation schemes, the three "golden rules" should be followed: Slow it down : Scams are often designed to create a sense of urgency, so Google recommends taking time to ask questions and think it through. : Scams are often designed to create a sense of urgency, so Google recommends taking time to ask questions and think it through. Spot check : Do independent research to double-check the details being presented. Does what they're telling you make sense? : Do independent research to double-check the details being presented. Does what they're telling you make sense? Stop! Don't send: No reputable person or agency will ever demand payment or your personal information on the spot, Google says. Google also suggests double-checking URL names for businesses to make sure they match the actual company's domain, making sure the website starts with "https," checking the spelling of the URL for slight variations and being weary if the website requests excessive personal information or unusual payment methods like Bitcoin, gift cards or wire transfers.
