Alphabet’s Google on Friday sued a Los Angeles man and his corporations in San Jose, California federal courtroom, claiming he created tons of of faux enterprise listings on its platforms and bought them to actual companies to lure in unsuspecting clients.
Faux evaluations have been a recurring downside on web commerce websites. Google mentioned in a press release that it filed the lawsuit in opposition to Ethan QiQi Hu to “assist put an finish to these kinds of malicious schemes.”
Hu didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
Google’s lawsuit mentioned Hu creates sham companies that seem in its search engine and Google Maps, utilizing an “elaborate set of props” to confirm them on video calls with the tech big’s brokers.
The lawsuit mentioned Hu retains a software bench as a prop to confirm fraudulent listings for storage restore, tree slicing and plumbing, and important oils for verifying pretend aromatherapy and reiki remedy companies.
Google mentioned Hu buys 1000’s of faux optimistic evaluations to make the companies seem reliable. He then allegedly sells the profiles as “leads” to actual companies in the identical fields, which obtain contacts from potential clients who attain out to the pretend companies.
Google mentioned Hu created greater than 350 false profiles bolstered by over 14,000 illegitimate evaluations.
The lawsuit accused Hu of false promoting, illegal enterprise practices, and violating Google’s phrases of service. Google requested the courtroom for an unspecified sum of money damages and an order to dam Hu’s alleged misconduct.
The case is Google LLC v. Hu, U.S. District Courtroom of the Northern District of California, No. 5:23-cv-02964.
— Reuters
