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How to Protect Your Google Business Profile from Map Pin Edits
How to Protect Your Google Business Profile from Map Pin Edits

The article warns about a scam where competitors move Google Business Profile pins, causing businesses to lose local rankings. It explains how the scam works, its impact, and how to detect and prevent it using Local brand manager Pin Change Alerts.

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Written by Gen Cutajar
Updated over a week ago

Overview

Recently, business owners have reported a new scam where competitors or malicious actors move Google Business Profile (GBP) map pins to a different location. This can significantly affect your local rankings, leading to lost visibility and potential revenue.

How the Scam Works

  1. A competitor or unauthorized individual visits your GBP.

  2. They click on “Suggest an edit” and move your pin to a different location.

  3. Google often accepts these edits without notifying you.

  4. Your local rankings shift to the new location, making your business invisible to local customers.

  5. If you manually revert the change, Google may suspend your profile for suspicious activity.

How to Detect If Your Pin Has Been Moved

Since Google does not send alerts for pin movements, you should:

  • Regularly check your Google Business Profile location in Google Maps.

  • Monitor for sudden drops in rankings or traffic.

  • pin tracking alerts with Local Brand Manager to receive instant notifications when your location is changed.

What to Do If Your Pin Has Been Moved

If you notice unauthorized changes to your pin:

  1. Go to Google Business Profile Manager.

  2. Navigate to the Info section and check your address.

  3. If incorrect, manually move the pin back to its original location.

  4. Submit a report to Google Support to dispute the change and prevent further unauthorized edits.

  5. Avoid frequent manual changes to prevent account suspension.

How Local Viking Helps Protect Your Business

To prevent ranking loss and unauthorized pin edits, Local Viking has introduced Pin Change Alerts. With this feature, you will receive an instant notification if your business location is modified, allowing you to take immediate action before your rankings suffer.

Video Guide

For a detailed walkthrough on how this scam works and how to protect your business, watch our video:

Final Tips to Protect Your Business

✅ Regularly check your GBP for any unauthorized changes.
✅ Check Local Brand Manager Pin Change Alerts to stay ahead of scammers.
✅ Contact Google Support immediately if your pin has been moved.
✅ Avoid excessive manual changes to reduce the risk of account suspension.

Stay vigilant and keep your business protected!

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