When Someone Claims, Moves, or Closes Your Business on Google, What You Can Do?

Imagine searching for your business on Google, only to find that it has been moved, claimed by someone else, or marked as "Permanently Closed" without your knowledge. This isn’t just an inconvenience; it can cost you customers, revenue, and credibility. Unfortunately, mean people, competitors, or even well-meaning users can manipulate Google My Business (GMB), leaving business owners scrambling to regain control.

So why does this happen, and more importantly, how do you protect your business and restore your rightful listing?

This is not funny

How Do People Take Over or Move Your Business Listing?

Google My Business is designed to be user-friendly, but that also makes it vulnerable to abuse. Here are some ways people can manipulate your listing:

1. Unauthorized Business Claiming

If you haven't claimed your business yet, someone else might try to. Google allows users to request ownership of an unverified business listing by clicking "Own this business?" in Google Search or Maps. If they provide enough information, Google may approve their request—sometimes without notifying you.

2. Moving Your Business to Another Location

Some users, often competitors, can suggest an edit to move your business to a different location. If Google’s system accepts the change without verification, your business can be relocated in search results—sometimes even to a fake or non-existent address.

3. Marking Your Business as Permanently Closed

Anyone can submit an edit to mark your business as "Permanently Closed." If approved, your business may stop appearing in local searches, making it look like you’ve shut down—even when you’re fully operational.

4. Fake Reviews & Spam Attacks

Someone with ill intentions can claim your business and flood it with fake reviews, bad ratings, or misleading content, damaging your reputation before you even realise what’s happening.

How to Protect Your Business from Unauthorised Edits

If this happens to you, don’t panic—Google provides ways to dispute and fix these issues. Here’s what you should do:

Step 1 Claim & Verify Your Business Immediately

The best defense is preventing someone from taking control in the first place.

  • Go to Google Business Profile Manager
  • Search for your business name
  • Click "Manage now" and follow the verification process
  • Choose verification by postcard, phone, or email

If someone has already claimed your business, click "Request Ownership" in GMB and submit proof of ownership.

Step 2 Check & Reject Unauthorised Edits

If your business details are changed without your consent, you can manually reject those edits.

  • Log into Google My Business
  • Click on "Manage Locations"
  • Find your business and look for pending updates
  • Click "Reject" on any unauthorised changes

Step 3 Report & Fix a Fraudulent Listing Move

If your business has been moved, report the incorrect location:

  • Go to Google Maps
  • Find your business
  • Click "Suggest an edit" → "Change name or other details"
  • Correct the address and submit

If Google does not approve your correction, escalate the issue to Google Business Support.

Step 4 Fix a Business Marked as "Permanently Closed"

If someone has falsely marked your business as closed:

  • Go to Google Maps and search for your business
  • Click "Suggest an Edit"
  • Select "Reopen this business"
  • Submit proof if prompted

If Google doesn’t update it, contact their support team directly.

Step 5 Report Fraudulent Activity to Google

If someone illegitimately claimed your business or keeps making false edits, report them to Google:

  • Use the Google Business Redressal Complaint Form → Submit Here
  • Provide screenshots, URLs, and details of the fraudulent activity
  • Follow up if no response within a few days

Step 6 Monitor Your Listing Regularly

Stay ahead of unauthorised changes by checking your GMB profile weekly. Set up Google Alerts for your business name to get notified of suspicious activity.

Preventive Measures to Keep Your Listing Secure

Beyond fixing unauthorised edits, here’s how to keep your business safe from future tampering:

  • Can I sue Google My Business for not looking after my business? No
  • Enable Google’s Business Alerts – This notifies you when an edit is suggested on your listing.
  • Use a Strong Business Email – Ensure your GMB account is linked to an email you actively monitor.
  • List Your Business in Multiple Directories – If a competitor manipulates your Google listing, consistent details on other platforms (Yelp, Bing, Apple Maps) can help correct the issue faster.
  • Educate Your Team – Make sure employees know not to approve suspicious ownership requests.
  • Encourage Real Reviews – A well-maintained GMB profile with active customer engagement is harder to manipulate.
  • What Google Needs to Improve
  • While Google provides tools for business owners, its open-edit system still allows abuse. Here’s how Google could improve:
  • Require Stronger Verification for Ownership Changes – Businesses should be notified and required to approve ownership transfers.
  • Limit Edits for Verified Businesses – Once a business is verified, edits should require business owner approval.
  • Improve Fraud Detection – Businesses with multiple edit attempts in a short time should be flagged for review.

Until these changes happen, business owners must be proactive in protecting their listings.

Having your business moved, claimed, or falsely marked as closed on Google is a serious issue, but it’s one you can fight back against. Unfortunately, this has happened to Web Honey Digital more than once.

If you’ve faced this problem, take immediate action by rejecting edits, reclaiming ownership, and reporting fraudulent activity. Google’s tools may not be perfect, but staying vigilant can prevent long-term damage to your online presence.