Alphabet‘s Google on Friday sued a Los Angeles man and his corporations in San Jose, California federal court docket, claiming he created a whole bunch of pretend enterprise listings on its platforms and offered them to actual companies to lure in unsuspecting prospects.
Faux critiques 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 all these 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 device 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 hundreds of pretend constructive critiques to make the companies seem authentic. He then allegedly sells the profiles as “leads” to actual companies in the identical fields, which obtain contacts from potential prospects who attain out to the pretend companies.
Google mentioned Hu created greater than 350 false profiles bolstered by over 14,000 illegitimate critiques.
The lawsuit accused Hu of false promoting, illegal enterprise practices and violating Google’s phrases of service. Google requested the court docket 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.
For Google: Whitty Somvichian of Cooley
For Hu: lawyer data not accessible
© Thomson Reuters 2023
(This story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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