Companies that make the effort to be reliable and user-friendly are well-respected and trusted. Unfortunately, unscrupulous people will sometimes try to use the names of those companies to scam unsuspecting consumers. Google, the world’s most ubiquitous search engine and one of the world’s most popular web presences, is no exception to this issue.
Beware of Scam Artists
Scams can come in many forms – phishing, telemarketing, fake invoices, and fake job offers are just a few. Scam artists will often claim to have a special relationship with or claim to be Google. They are not affiliated with Google, and are simply trying to use the Google brand to sell your business some unnecessary service or gain access to your personal information. If you have encountered someone using the Google brand name as part of a scam, you are encouraged to report the incorrect use of the Google Trademark.
Protecting Yourself
Remember, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure – keep yourself safe while browsing the internet by only giving your personal information to trusted, reliable websites, and doing your research before agreeing to anything.
If telemarketers are bothering you or your business, consider adding your phone number to the Do Not Call Registry. The National Do Not Call Registry is managed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and allows registers to file complaints against telemarketers who are harassing them.
What If You’ve Already Been Scammed?
If you are concerned that you may have been the victim of a scam using Google’s name, take a moment to read through this FAQ. Google has taken the time to document many of the scams using their name, including the telemarketing scam described above.
The FTC handles complaints about deceptive or unfair business practices, and will help you file a complaint against the company which scammed you. To file a complaint, you can visit http://www.ftc.gov/ftc/contact.shtm, or call 1-877-FTC-HELP.
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