Someone is using a fraudulent address on a Google business website

onlythebestinlife

Sorry I could not find a correct category to put this in. 
I had a letter to say that my business was up and running and my address verified for a Google business website. 
I do not have a business and have never had one, but my address is on this website and it is a security company. 
I really do not know who to contact apart from the police, but I need it taken down from Google but there are no contact numbers etc. The Company having investigated further was dissolved in 2021 and was in Swindon. It has now started up, but not limited and has my address. 
I am really concerned as this is fraud. How do I stop it with Google? Many thanks

p00hsticks

Who was the letter from ?

I'm not sure what you mean by a 'Google business website' ?

If you mean one of those entries that appear on the righthand side that give information on a company (e.g. opening hours, website address) when you type the company name into a Google search page (a 'Google Business Profile'), then there is the option to 'suggest an edit' which should work (I've used it to amend incorrect opening hoours for shops before now).

But if it's listed on a website itself, then how does that link with Google  ?

If it's just a normal website, surely it will show up whatever search engine you use, so getting Google involved wouldn;t be much help... 

powerful_Rogue

onlythebestinlife said:

Sorry I could not find a correct category to put this in. 
I had a letter to say that my business was up and running and my address verified for a Google business website. 
I do not have a business and have never had one, but my address is on this website and it is a security company. 
I really do not know who to contact apart from the police, but I need it taken down from Google but there are no contact numbers etc. The Company having investigated further was dissolved in 2021 and was in Swindon. It has now started up, but not limited and has my address. 
I am really concerned as this is fraud. How do I stop it with Google? Many thanks

For a start I wouldn't be involving the police as no crime has been committed. If you must, then use ActionFraud as they will just file it away and not action anything, but personally save yourself the time and bother.

As for Google, quick search found this - https://support.google.com/maps/answer/3094088?hl=en

These things happen, next door was shown as doing Karate classes. They did aq uick report to Google and it was removed.

tacpot12

You could ask the owner a questions, e.g. "Why they are using your home address for their business?"  I'm not sure if your question will be published without the owner being able to block it, but if they can't block it or delete your question, it might warn other people. It might also encourage them to select another fake address for their business. 

I would refer this to Trading Standards. 

user1977

Must be a strange business if it can only be contacted via an incorrect postal address?

HampshireH

No social media presence you can contact them through? Or contact form on the webpage?

greyteam1959

powerful_Rogue said:

onlythebestinlife said:

Sorry I could not find a correct category to put this in. 
I had a letter to say that my business was up and running and my address verified for a Google business website. 
I do not have a business and have never had one, but my address is on this website and it is a security company. 
I really do not know who to contact apart from the police, but I need it taken down from Google but there are no contact numbers etc. The Company having investigated further was dissolved in 2021 and was in Swindon. It has now started up, but not limited and has my address. 
I am really concerned as this is fraud. How do I stop it with Google? Many thanks

For a start I wouldn't be involving the police as no crime has been committed. If you must, then use ActionFraud as they will just file it away and not action anything, but personally save yourself the time and bother.

As for Google, quick search found this - https://support.google.com/maps/answer/3094088?hl=en

These things happen, next door was shown as doing Karate classes. They did aq uick report to Google and it was removed.

I have used that link to report a very obvious & potentially serious road naming error on Google maps several times a year for the last 2 or 3 years.
It's a blatant error on a 2 mile stretch of a local road 
No response at all ever from Google.

MattMattMattUK

greyteam1959 said:

powerful_Rogue said:

onlythebestinlife said:

Sorry I could not find a correct category to put this in. 
I had a letter to say that my business was up and running and my address verified for a Google business website. 
I do not have a business and have never had one, but my address is on this website and it is a security company. 
I really do not know who to contact apart from the police, but I need it taken down from Google but there are no contact numbers etc. The Company having investigated further was dissolved in 2021 and was in Swindon. It has now started up, but not limited and has my address. 
I am really concerned as this is fraud. How do I stop it with Google? Many thanks

For a start I wouldn't be involving the police as no crime has been committed. If you must, then use ActionFraud as they will just file it away and not action anything, but personally save yourself the time and bother.

As for Google, quick search found this - https://support.google.com/maps/answer/3094088?hl=en

These things happen, next door was shown as doing Karate classes. They did aq uick report to Google and it was removed.

I have used that link to report a very obvious & potentially serious road naming error on Google maps several times a year for the last 2 or 3 years.
It's a blatant error on a 2 mile stretch of a local road 
No response at all ever from Google.

It might depend on your standing with Google, if I notify them that a business is no longer open, or a road name is wrong, and have done both within the last two months, they make the change within hours, but I am a "Top 1% Reviewer" whatever that actually means. 

marlot

greyteam1959 said:

powerful_Rogue said:

onlythebestinlife said:

Sorry I could not find a correct category to put this in. 
I had a letter to say that my business was up and running and my address verified for a Google business website. 
I do not have a business and have never had one, but my address is on this website and it is a security company. 
I really do not know who to contact apart from the police, but I need it taken down from Google but there are no contact numbers etc. The Company having investigated further was dissolved in 2021 and was in Swindon. It has now started up, but not limited and has my address. 
I am really concerned as this is fraud. How do I stop it with Google? Many thanks

For a start I wouldn't be involving the police as no crime has been committed. If you must, then use ActionFraud as they will just file it away and not action anything, but personally save yourself the time and bother.

As for Google, quick search found this - https://support.google.com/maps/answer/3094088?hl=en

These things happen, next door was shown as doing Karate classes. They did aq uick report to Google and it was removed.

I have used that link to report a very obvious & potentially serious road naming error on Google maps several times a year for the last 2 or 3 years.
It's a blatant error on a 2 mile stretch of a local road 
No response at all ever from Google.

I've reported a mis-spelled station name at least ten times.  Including a photo of the platform sign, showing the correct spelling.  It gets 'reviewed' and turned down every time.

greyteam1959

MattMattMattUK said:

greyteam1959 said:

powerful_Rogue said:

onlythebestinlife said:

Sorry I could not find a correct category to put this in. 
I had a letter to say that my business was up and running and my address verified for a Google business website. 
I do not have a business and have never had one, but my address is on this website and it is a security company. 
I really do not know who to contact apart from the police, but I need it taken down from Google but there are no contact numbers etc. The Company having investigated further was dissolved in 2021 and was in Swindon. It has now started up, but not limited and has my address. 
I am really concerned as this is fraud. How do I stop it with Google? Many thanks

For a start I wouldn't be involving the police as no crime has been committed. If you must, then use ActionFraud as they will just file it away and not action anything, but personally save yourself the time and bother.

As for Google, quick search found this - https://support.google.com/maps/answer/3094088?hl=en

These things happen, next door was shown as doing Karate classes. They did aq uick report to Google and it was removed.

I have used that link to report a very obvious & potentially serious road naming error on Google maps several times a year for the last 2 or 3 years.
It's a blatant error on a 2 mile stretch of a local road 
No response at all ever from Google.

It might depend on your standing with Google, if I notify them that a business is no longer open, or a road name is wrong, and have done both within the last two months, they make the change within hours, but I am a "Top 1% Reviewer" whatever that actually means. 

My standing with Google??
I'm just a nobody & intend to stay that way.

bob6543

I'm too new to the forum to post links, but scammers might be using your details.
search for a bbc article called Bogus companies scam: 'We never knew our home was on the list'