Google is an excellent resource for finding information on the internet. However, many scams use Google's name to trick users into giving away personal information or money.
This article provides information on the 6 signs that a call from Google may be a scam and how to avoid them. If you experience these signs, do not share personal information, and report the caller. Read on to learn more!
How Does A Google Scam Work?
Google scams are typically perpetrated by malicious actors attempting to exploit unsuspecting users. These scammers often use Google's name, reputation, and services to lure people into providing information or money.
Phishing is a common technique the scammers adopt, where they pose as a google representative, talk about the victim's Google account or other services, and attempt to get the victim to provide personal information or money.
How to Report a Google Scam
If you suspect having been a victim of a Google scam, contact Google customer service immediately and report the incident. Google will investigate and work to prevent future scams.
You can also contact local law enforcement agencies and provide as much information about the scammer to protect other unsuspecting people from Google scams.
6 Signs That a Call from Google Is a Scam
Google scams are a serious threat, so it is essential to be aware of them and protect yourself. Here are 6 signs that help you identify if a call from Google is a scam
1. Discussion on Google rankings
If you receive a call where someone from Google wants to discuss your website rankings, you should immediately hang up, as this is a scam call.
Fact: Google does not call any individual or business to discuss their website rankings.
2. Telling you that your site is not user-friendly
If a caller tells you they are from Google, and your site is not user-friendly, disconnect the call and report them immediately.
Fact: Google doesn't call individuals or businesses to inform them that their website is not user friendly
3. Telling you about your performance on Google
Recognize a call as spam if someone posing to be a Google employee talks to you about your site's performance.
Fact: Google doesn't call individuals or businesses to discuss website performance
4. Telling you that you are not verified
If the caller posing as a Google representative says your business is unverified, it is a red sign, and you should disconnect the call immediately.
Fact: Google does not call unverified businesses to inform them of their status
5. Mention SEO or Optimization
If a caller pretending to be a Google employee mentions SEO or optimization, they are scammers or people who want to sell their services.
Fact: Google does not call businesses or individuals to provide SEO assistance or service.
6. Asking for money or payment
If the caller asks you for money or payment in Google's name, it is most likely a scam.
Fact: Google doesn't call businesses or individuals to ask for money, except for their Adwords pitch
How to Avoid Google Scams
If you want to stop receiving Google scam calls, you can be proactive and get a spam blocker to block calls on your landline. You can download several apps to block spam calls on Android and iPhones. Read on!
The Best Way to Block Spam on your Landline
Most landline providers do not offer spam-blocking services, leaving you with no option but to block them manually on your phone. Manually blocking spam calls is ineffective because you can block numbers only after receiving the call.
The only effective way to block spam calls is to switch to a provider that blocks them automatically before they reach you.
Community Phone offers landline phone service with built-in spam call blocking that can stop unlawful and unwanted calls from reaching your landline. It allows you to keep your landline phone without tying it to the internet.
Get rid of unwanted calls, and protect yourself, your loved ones, or your business from scams with Community Phone's spam-calling blocking services. Its spam call blocker can automatically detect spam, fraud, or robocalls and stop them before your phone rings.
How does It work?
- When you receive a call to your Community Phone number, your phone won't ring immediately. The caller will hear a recording that asks them to "press 1 to connect."
- Robocalls work by sensing when the recipient picks up the phone and speaks. Once they hear a sound that isn't the sound of the phone ringing, the recording begins.
- Since robocalls don't press buttons, the call will never reach your phone.
- If an "unidentified caller" follows the instructions and your phone rings, you can let the call go to voicemail and respond to the voicemail if it's a legitimate caller.
The Safelist
The Community Phone "Safelist" is a list of numbers you pre-approved to receive calls from. Your phone will ring only to let calls from the pre-approved numbers reach you. It will block all other numbers before your phone rings. You can update this list anytime to add or delete pre-approved numbers.
This feature is handy for seniors who are unsuspecting victims of phone scams. The Community Phone account holder can prevent anyone seniors don't know from reaching them, guaranteeing they'll avoid phone scams.
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The Safelist - 2
This feature lets your phone ring only for numbers pre-approved by you and routes the rest to voicemail. You can access your voicemails and respond to legitimate messages or missed calls. You can update the pre-approved list anytime to add or delete numbers.
The Blocklist
Community Phone guards your landline number against known robocallers, scam calls, and telemarketers by checking each incoming caller's number against a regularly updated database, better known as the blocklist. Their database has over 6 million known spam numbers and is growing daily. You can contribute actively by updating the database with a spam number to protect yourself and other Community Phone members from unwanted calls.
Join Community Phone's waitlist today for first access and receive a free brochure on how this one-of-a-kind spam call-blocking service can help you.
The Best Way To Block Spam On Your iPhone
There are 2 ways to block spam calls on your iPhone
1. The Community Phone Spam Call Blocking App
You can find Community Phone's spam blocker in the Apple Store. Download this free app on your iPhone to block spam calls and text messages. You can also add the spam number to the Community Phone blocklist to update their blocklist. This action can help protect you and other Community Phone members from unwanted calls from that number.
2. Manually Block the Spam Number from Your iPhone
You can block scam calls manually on your iPhone by following these steps:
- Open the Phone App
- Tap > Recent
- Locate the number you want to block
- Tap the info icon
- Scroll to the bottom
- Tap block this caller
- Tap Confirm
The Best Way to Block Spam on Your Android Phone.
You can block scam calls manually on your Android Phone by following these steps:
- Open the Phone App
- Tap more
- Access Call History
- Tap the number/name you want to block
- Tap Block/Report Spam
Benefits of Choosing the Community Phone Spam Blocker
Here are some benefits of choosing the Community Phone spam-blocker services:
1. Built-in Spam Blocker
Traditional landlines do not have in-built spam blockers. If you have a traditional landline, you can manually block spam numbers until you reach a limit. However, you can block the number only after you receive the call, which could be risky in many cases as you may have engaged the scammer.
The Community Phone built-in spam blocker scans, flags, and blocks spam calls before your phone rings, protecting you from scams and fraud.
2. Great Advantage for Seniors
The Safelist can ensure seniors are not troubled by scammers calling from unknown or unidentified numbers. The person who controls the Community Phone user account can pre-approve numbers from which the senior would like to receive calls. The spam blocker service will only allow calls from pre-approved numbers and block all other calls.
3. Take Control of Your Protection
You can update the Safelist or the Allowed list at any time to add or delete numbers. This feature prevents you from engaging scammers and ensures peace and protection against scams and fraud.
4. Effective Where the "Do Not Call" List Fails
The Do Not Call list is not effective against scammers. To prevent scam calls and to protect yourself from fraud, sign up for the Community Phone spam-blocker services for your landline or download their app for iPhone now.
FAQs
What is the best free scam call blocker for the iPhone?
Community Phone’s spam-blocking app on the Apple store is the best free scam call blocker for your iPhone. It blocks unwanted calls before your phone can ring, protecting you from scams and fraud.
What is the 6-digit Google scam?
The 6-digit Google scam is methodical and scams unsuspecting people. Here's how it works
- Scammers visit the marketplace and scout out things to buy.
- They contact the seller and express interest in the item
- However, scammers tell the sellers that they must verify the item's ownership before buying.
- The scammers ask the seller to share the 6-digit Google voice code they (scammers) generate.
- Once the seller shares the code, the scammer controls the seller's phone and can use it to scam others.
Conclusion
Google scams are a severe threat; it is essential to be aware of them and protect yourself. By being aware of google scams, you can protect yourself and your information from malicious actors.
Get Community Phone to stop spam calls before they ring your phone and protect yourself from scams and fraud. Talk to their specialist to learn more!