Scammers are increasingly leveraging Google Maps to extort businesses by inundating their profiles with fake negative reviews, a tactic known as review-bombing. After these malicious actions, extortionists contact business owners demanding payment to remove the negative reviews. The threat posed by these scammers is significant, as negative reviews can severely impact customer trust and revenue, prompting some owners to feel the pressure to pay up. Google has unveiled a dedicated tool to address this issue, allowing business owners to report ransom demands directly to the platform. This initiative complements existing policies against false engagement and harassment, enhancing Google’s ability to act swiftly against such deceptive practices. Security experts advise that business owners should refrain from paying ransoms and instead report these incidents using the new reporting tool. Collecting evidence of extortion attempts can also assist law enforcement in investigations. Overall, this situation underscores the ongoing challenge that online platforms face in combating digital fraud and protecting businesses.
👉 Pročitaj original: Cyber Security News
