Short version: Google lets anyone signed in to a Google account request removal of a business that never existed or isn't eligible to be on Google, using Suggest an edit on Google Maps (source). For a misleading business name, phone number or website that looks like fraud, Google points to its Business Redressal Complaint form (source). Everything below comes from Google's own help pages, linked in each section.
Step 1: Check your own listing against the same rules
Google's guidelines for representing your business are the yardstick for every listing, yours included (source). Google asks that you represent the business the way it's known in the real world across signage, stationery and other branding, keep the address or service area accurate, and have only one profile per business. Google also says that if you're a service-area business, you should hide your address from customers (source).
Step 2: What Google's guidelines don't allow
- Keyword stuffing in the name. That's adding the trade, the city, or "24/7" to a business name that doesn't actually use them. Google says the name should reflect the business's real-world name, and that including unnecessary information in it isn't permitted and could result in suspension. Google's examples of what a name must not include list business hours, service or product information, and location information (source).
- Addresses that don't hold the business. Google says P.O. boxes or mailboxes at remote locations aren't acceptable, that a rented mailing address the business doesn't operate out of isn't eligible, and that businesses showing their address should keep permanent signage with their name there (source).
- More than one page per location. Google says not to create more than one page for each location of a business, in one account or several (source).
- Phone numbers that send callers elsewhere. Google says not to provide phone numbers or URLs that redirect or refer users to numbers or pages other than the actual business's, and that the phone number must be under the business's direct control (source).
Step 3: For one listing, use Suggest an edit
Google's steps: open Google Maps, select the business, choose Suggest an edit, then Place is closed or not here, and pick the option that fits, such as Doesn't exist here or Offensive, harmful, or misleading, then submit. You need to be signed in to a Google account. Google says you might get a status email with follow-up questions, and that if the request is approved, the business is removed from Search and Maps (source).
Step 4: For fraud, use the redressal form
If you find misleading business names, phone numbers or business URLs on Maps that raise suspicion of fraudulent activity, Google says to fill out the Business Redressal Complaint form. Google says you can report multiple businesses at once by uploading 10 or more profiles or a spreadsheet with all the URLs (source).
Step 5: Paid-for reviews are a separate report
Google says reviews posted in exchange for a payment, deal or discount are prohibited. If you believe a business offers incentives for reviews or pressures people to leave them, Google's steps are: in the Google Maps app, open the business, tap Suggest an edit, then Report business conduct at the bottom. Google notes that form is for business behavior; reporting one specific review is a different flow (source).
Rather we look first?
That's part of our free Map Check. Send your business name and phone, and we search a job in your town the way a customer would, then send a screen-recorded video, about 3 minutes, showing your listing next to the first three on the map and the three fixes we'd make to yours. We don't file reports for you, and it costs nothing.