Duplicate and fake Google Business Profile listings can have a big negative impact on your local SEO efforts.
Not only can such profiles confuse and mislead customers, but having multiple business listings for the same business also goes against Google's guidelines for representing your business and can potentially cause a whole range of technical issues.
So, in order to avoid Google Business Profile violations and ensure your customers find the right information about your business, you should monitor Google Maps for fake or duplicate GBP listings and report any to Google as soon as you notice them.
Google has continued refining its Business Profile management tools and spam-detection systems, especially when it comes to reviews, but it's still important to watch out for duplicate Google Business Profiles and report any you find to avoid potential ranking issues.
How Do Fake or Duplicate Google Business Profile Listings Get Created?
There are a few different reasons why a business might have multiple listings on Google Business Profile.
The simplest explanation is that multiple people have added the same business to Google Maps for some reason, with no malicious intent behind doing so.
This could happen, for example, if an old employee started creating a listing and never finished taking ownership of it, then you unknowingly created another listing for the business instead of claiming the existing one.
Or, maybe you moved locations and created a new listing for the new location, instead of updating the existing GBP to the new address.
Another reason why a duplicate GBP might exist is that scammers have created a fake listing. They might do this in order to basically "hold it hostage" and try to extort money from you, or perhaps to deceive would-be customers in some way.
It's also possible for a shady competitor to duplicate your business on Google to try and hurt your rankings.
Fortunately, regardless of their origin, Google takes fake Business Profiles seriously, and has measures in place to make it easy for legitimate business owners to get them removed.
How To Remove Duplicate Google Business Profiles
Google has made small updates to how you manage Business Profiles directly in Search and Maps, making it easier to report duplicates and edit listings without using the old Business Profile Manager dashboard.
Method 1: Merging Duplicate Google Business Profiles
If two Google Business Profiles exist for a business and both actively appear on Google Maps, the easiest way to remove the duplicate GBP listing is to merge them into one.
In order to merge duplicate Google Business Profiles, you can simply suggest via Google Maps (using the "Suggest an edit" button) that Google merge the profiles.
Google will review your suggestion and merge the listings into one if they find the request to be valid. This process may take up to 72 hours.
Method 2: Reporting Duplicate Google Business Profiles
Another way to remove one or more duplicate Google Business Profiles is to report them to Google Support for removal.
This is similar to merging GBPs, except that you suggest to Google Support that they outright remove the duplicate profile instead of merging it, with the reason being that it's a "Duplicate of another place."
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How To Remove a Duplicate Google Business Profile From Your Account
In some cases, you might have two Google Business Profiles for the same business in your Google account, with only one of them actually being verified and showing up on Google Maps.
If this is the case for you, you don't actually need to remove the duplicate profile that isn't showing up on Google, but you might wish to do so in order to clean up your account.
To remove an inactive Google Business Profile from your account, simply go to your homepage, then navigate to "Actions" and then "Remove businesses" and then "Remove." Next, select the profile you want to delete make sure you're selecting the unverified profile!
How To Report a Fake Google Business Profile
Fake listings are increasingly being created using AI-generated business details or spoofed websites. Google's systems are better at detecting these, but it's still important to report them manually if you notice suspicious or duplicate listings.
To report a fake Google Business Profile with potentially malicious content/intent, you can use Google's Business Redressal Form.
This is pretty straightforward, and just requires you to fill out your contact info, the name of the business or organization that is being impacted, and details about the malicious content, including its URL and a description of why you believe it is malicious.
As we mentioned earlier, Google takes fake Business Profiles seriously, so as long as your request is valid, they should usually deal with the duplicate fake listing within a few days.
Tips for Avoiding Duplicate Google Business Profiles:
- Claim Your Profile: Claim your Google Business Profile to help prevent others from taking it over and creating duplicate listings. Verify your ownership using Google's verification process.
- Check for Existing Listings: Before creating a new listing, search for your business on Google to see if a profile already exists.
- Update Existing Listings: If you find an existing listing, take ownership of it and update it with accurate information, rather than creating a new one.
- Report Duplicate Listings: If you find a duplicate listing, report it to Google to get it merged or removed, using the "Suggest an edit" option on the profile. Provide detailed information to help Google verify the duplicate.
- Change Your Address if You Move: If your business moves locations, make sure to update the address on the existing listing instead of creating a new listing.
- Educate Employees: Ensure that all employees are aware of the importance of maintaining a single, accurate Google Business Profile and how to avoid creating duplicates.
How To Find Fake or Duplicate Google Business Profile Listings
In some cases, you may not even be aware that there are fake or duplicate Google Business Profiles for your business out there, but they could be hurting your rankings as you're reading this. Fortunately, there's an easy way to find fake and duplicate GBP listings to get them removed and fix any issues they may be causing: Falcon AI.
The built-in Falcon AI analysis in Local Falcon's Scan Reports is designed to meticulously analyze your GBP listings and flag any potential duplicates or fraudulent listing entries that could be negatively impacting your local SEO.
In order to proactively get ahead of potential issues related to fake and duplicate listings, make sure to run regular rank tracking scans and keep an eye on the AI analysis section of your Scan Reports to spot any listings you need to get removed.
Final Words
Fake or duplicate Google Business Profile listings can harm your local SEO efforts and mislead potential customers. To maintain the integrity of your online presence and adhere to Google's guidelines, it's crucial to report and remove any such listings promptly.
These listings can be created innocently, by multiple individuals adding the same business, or maliciously by scammers seeking to deceive customers or extort money. Google provides methods to address these issues, including merging duplicate listings and reporting fake ones.
To help prevent duplicate listings, claim, verify, and update your Google Business Profile, check for existing listings before creating a new one, and educate your employees about maintaining accurate profiles. You should also monitor your GBP rankings with Local Falcon and Falcon AI to catch any dips in performance that could be due to a duplicate, fake, or spammy profile.
By following these tips and taking action against fake or duplicate GBP listings, you can ultimately ensure that customers find the right information about your business online, helping you drive more local business!
Frequently Asked Questions on How To Remove Google Listings
How long does it take for Google to remove a duplicate Business Profile?
Usually within 3 business days after review, though complex cases can take longer if ownership needs to be verified.
Can I merge two verified Google Business Profiles myself?
You can't merge them manually, but you can suggest an edit or directly contact Google Business Profile Support to request a merger. Be sure to verify both profiles are actually for the same business before submitting your request (especially for multi-location businesses that might have similar profiles for different addresses).
What happens if I don't remove duplicate GBP listings?
Leaving duplicates active can confuse customers, split your reviews and ranking signals, and even cause suspension under Google's business representation policies.
