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Google, a subsidiary of Alphabet, filed a federal court lawsuit against a man from Los Angeles and his businesses on Friday. According to the lawsuit, the individual established hundreds of fictitious company listings on Google’s platforms and sold them to legitimate organisations in order to entice unwary clients.
On online storefronts, fake reviews have frequently been a concern. In a statement, Google said that the reason for bringing legal action against Ethan QiQi Hu was to “help put an end to these types of malicious schemes.” A request for comment from Hu did not immediately receive a response.
Hu is accused in Google’s complaint of fabricating fake companies that show up in Google Maps and its search engine while employing a “elaborate set of props” to confirm them during video chats with the tech company’s representatives.
According to the complaint, Hu keeps a work bench as a prop to check phoney listings for plumbing, tree cutting and garage maintenance, as well as essential oils to check bogus aromatherapy and reiki therapy firms.
According to Google, Hu purchases tens of thousands of phoney favourable evaluations to give the companies a respectable appearance. Then, it is said, he sells the profiles to legitimate companies operating in related industries as “leads” so they may get in touch with any clients who might have contacted the fictitious companies.
Google claimed Hu generated more than 350 bogus profiles, supported by more than 14,000 fraudulent reviews.
In the complaint, Hu was charged with deceptive advertising, illegal business practises, and breaking Google’s terms of service. Google requested an injunction to stop Hu’s alleged misbehaviour as well as an undefined sum of money in damages from the court.
The case number is 5:23-cv-02964 and is between Google LLC and Hu in the Northern District of California.