SEO Scams: Three Fake SEO Companies and the Owners Who Paid Them

SEO Scams: Three Fake SEO Companies and the Owners Who Paid Them

The Final Code

The phone rings. A recorded voice says it is calling about your Google listing, and that your business is about to be marked permanently closed. Press one to fix it. Millions of owners got that call, and some of them pressed one. As a team that does Long Island SEO and hears these stories every week, we have a name for what they bought: BSEO.

We wanted a collection of these. Not our customers. Documented cases, on the record, with the same three questions every time: what the owner was told, what was done to them, and what should have happened. Here are three, straight from the Federal Trade Commission and from Google’s own lawsuits.

One thing up front: none of these were real SEO companies. They were fake operations dressed up as Google, or as an SEO service, set up to take the money and deliver nothing. That is exactly why they are worth knowing. If you can spot the costume, you will never pay for it.

Case one: Google is calling

Case file 01
FAKE

Pointbreak Media

Not a real SEO company. A robocall operation pretending to be Google. Federal Trade Commission case, Florida, settled and judged in 2019.

What they were toldA robocall said the caller represented Google, as one of its “authorized Google My Business agencies.” Pay a one-time fee of $300 to $700, or your business gets removed from Google search and labeled “permanently closed.” For more, they could get you first-page placement.
What they gotNothing from Google, because the callers had no relationship with Google. The FTC says the operation robocalled more than 74 million people. The court ordered the two men behind it to pay $3,367,666.30 and hand over their jewelry.
What should have happenedHang up. A Google Business Profile is free, and nobody can sell you a spot at the top of Google’s regular results.

Source: FTC, “FTC Disconnects Pointbreak Media Robocall Scheme Defendants,” May 15, 2019.

The part that should make you laugh, a little grimly: the thing they were selling protection for is free. Google says so on its own page: “Yes, creating a Business Profile and listing your business on Google is free.” We wrote about a cousin of this call, a client who lost control of a listing, all the way back in 2014. The script has barely changed.

Case two: pay up or lose your five stars

Case file 02
FAKE

G Verifier

Not a real SEO company. An operation Google says was impersonating Google itself. Lawsuit filed by Google, announced November 2022.

What they were toldPay $99 or your Google account gets suspended. Some owners were told they “would lose their five-star reviews if they did not pay.” Others were told they “could also increase their ranking in Google search if provided with payment.”
What they gotAn operation Google says was impersonating it, which also ran websites selling fake reviews, “both positive and negative.” Google’s verdict on the ranking promise: “These statements, which imply superior placement among organic search results, are false and deceitful.”
What should have happenedYour reviews are not held hostage by anybody on the phone. Ask the caller for something in writing, then check your own Business Profile yourself. You will find nothing wrong with it.

Source: The Record, “Google files lawsuit accusing ‘G Verifier’ scammers of impersonating company,” November 29, 2022, quoting Google’s announcement.

Not sure what your SEO money is buying? Get My Free Visibility Report

Case three: the $1,000 listing with props

Case file 03
FAKE

Ethan QiQi Hu, Rafadigital and GMBEye

Not a real SEO company. A seller of fake Google listings for businesses that did not exist. Lawsuit filed by Google in federal court, June 2023.

What they were toldPay about $1,000 for a ready-made Google listing, renamed to your business, with claims of top placement in search.
What they gotAccording to Google, listings built for businesses that did not exist, propped up with fake reviews from people who did not exist: 350 fraudulent Business Profiles and 14,000 fake reviews. To get them verified, Google says the man behind it used props on verification calls to pass as a small business owner.
What should have happenedBuild your own profile, for your own real business, for free. A listing somebody else made and handed you is a listing you do not control, and Google can pull it.

Source: BleepingComputer, “Google targets fake business reviews network in new lawsuit,” June 16, 2023, reporting on Google’s filing.

What all three have in common

Every one of these owners was sold the same thing: a spot on Google that somebody claimed they could deliver for a fee. Google has been saying, for years, in its own guide to hiring an SEO, that nobody can:

“No one can guarantee a #1 ranking on Google.”

“Beware of SEOs that claim to guarantee rankings, allege a ‘special relationship’ with Google, or advertise a ‘priority submit’ to Google.”

Google Search Central, “Do You Need an SEO?”

None of the three were SEO companies at all. They were scams wearing an SEO costume, and the people behind them ended up in court. A real SEO company will never call you pretending to be Google, threaten your reviews, or sell you a listing somebody else built. If a caller does any of that, it is not SEO, good or bad. It is fraud.

That is the line between these cases and the everyday kind of BSEO. Most BSEO is quieter: a real company, a monthly bill, a report full of nice numbers, and no way for you to tell what the money did. Same root problem, though. You bought something you could not check.

The fix is the same for both. Know what you are paying for, in writing, by name. We put the five things you should be able to name in do you know what you bought?, and the questions to ask before anybody gets a dollar in questions to ask before you hire an SEO company.

Got one of these calls? Or a bill you cannot explain?

Send us your website. We will show you what Google actually shows for your business, the searches you are found for today, and the ones you are missing. No charge, and no obligation. Or call or text 805.243.8321. We are a real company, and we will not threaten your five stars.

Get My Free Visibility Report

Nobody can sell you the top of Google. Real SEO services earn it, and show you exactly how.

What clients say about working with us.

Word for word. Read them all on Google

  • We are very pleased with the website that the team at the Final Code created for us and with the training they provided on how to control our site. Our customers are also impressed with our site and comment on how good it looks.
    Kaylor Painting Google review, Jul 9, 2016
  • I started my business about 6 months ago and couldn't get my key words anywhere in search engines after burning through a few hundred dollars trying google adwords with no results I went to the Final Code. Now I am on page one or two of every category I am attempting and moving up all of they time. Larry and his crew teach you what you need to maintain a competitive web site that brings results. They are fun to work with. You could spend thousands on an outside company to optimize your website of a fraction of that with Final Code and learn how to do it yourself. Highly recommend them
    Nancy Barna Google review
  • This company saved my sanity! I was looking for a company that allowed me to have the freedom to do what I needed/wanted to do with my website and also offer excellent customer service. I struck gold! The Final Code team is super supportive. They never leave me hanging if I have questions or need assistance. Their software allows me complete control of our site. It has made having a website fun again! I would highly recommend them!
    Channel Islands Sportfishing Google review
  • Several web companies have created and hosted my website over the last 20 years. Never before have I received the service, support, and training that The Final Code provides. They respond immediately to my needs and sincerely want me to succeed. The Final Code has designed my site so that I have access to all my pages. I am able to make immediate changes to the text and images, whenever I desire. I love playing with my beautiful website and I love the Final Code for making it possible!!! PS I am grateful for the great response to my site from new clients. People are finally finding me because of The Final Code's SEO.
    Nomi Wagner Google review, Jun 29, 2016
  • Everyone at The Final Code has been so helpful .. Larry is always just a phone call away. Not being very computer savvy I am always relieved that Larry is willing and able to make the changes and additions to my website keeping all of my Surfcat Cafe & Adoptions followers up to date. As a nonprofit we were very grateful that they were understanding about our financial situation and were very reasonably priced. Thanks Final Code!! Leslie Weiss Surfcat Cafe & Adoptions
    Leslie Weiss Google review, Jun 17, 2016
  • In our line of work we get SEO/Web Marketing calls all day and to say the least my least favorite of calls. However We have been working with the Final Code for Almost 2 years now and they are top notch in customer service and know exactly what they are doing. My SEO Stats prior to the final code i thought was impressive for a small company of our nature, however after the final code.. WOW. My numbers have almost tripled this year alone and the business reflects those numbers. The team at the final code is top notch and extremely friendly. With their web code program i can go in and create, edit and screw up any page of my website in a flash (not recommended!) and the best part is these guys are always right on the button to fix my mistakes same day. We have had a great working relationship and if you truly want Free Google Placing, SEO tracking and of course local 805 business they are the guys to contact. We highly recommend them!
    Channel Islands Helicopters Google review
  • Working with Larry and the rest of The Final Code team has been fantastic! We originally had our website built by an independent web developer and it was a nightmare dragging on for months. It got to the point where we fired the guy and started looking for a professional web development company to finish the project. We found The Final Code and from the very beginning the process went so smoothly and the website was up and running in just weeks! I’ve worked for and with other web development agencies before and by far The Final Code has exceeded all my expectations – very professional, quick turnaround times, and Larry was beyond knowledgeable on building the best website to attract the most traffic. The best part was how the website was built so I can maintain it myself and Larry is there to teach me all that I need to know. I highly recommend The Final Code for all your website needs!
    Macy Homes Google review, Jul 2, 2016
  • These guys are great! I have 5 million questions and they are quick to help. Check them out!
    Molly Carroll Google review, Feb 19, 2016
  • I was referred to The Final Code by a support person at Xero Accounting, an online accounting app I use and support for clients. I had a website up and running for over 2 years, and knew that little or no search traffic was driven to the site, datapro.la. I spoke first to Larry Murphy, and then with Carlo Godoy and James Nisky. They spent a good deal of time with me, going over what they offer, and after takig a look at my existing site, made some recommendations. I am quite computer-literate, but website-dumb. They were patient with me, explaining until I had a good preliminary understanding. Feeling that I was in good hands, I decided to move forward with them redoing, and educating me on how to redo what I could to the website. A great decision on my part, as this group has come through for me in a spectacular fashion. Although not complete, as ongoing tweaking by me, with their assistance, to optimize content, add blog material, etc., datapro.la has a much more professional look and feel, and more importantly, has added what it takes to drive traffic to the website. I cannot fully describe how very happy, and confident, I am dealing with this group. I know they have my back, and are very responsive to questions and requests. Stupid cliche, buy you are in good hands with The Final Code. It is a great feeling to know this is true.
    David Goldstein Google review
  • Everyone at The Final Code has been fantastic. I own a small beekeeping company. Almost all of my business comes from people google searching beekeepers, due to the nature of the trade. Initially I hired a company for $1200 who promised they could get me to the top of google. It was one guy working out of a library. He claimed it would be easy. I needed the work done in six months. He informed me that his method was a secret, and that he used hidden back links to boost my website. Eight months and $1200 later I was congratulated on reaching the fifth page on google, and the first page on bing. Not only was I out the $1200, but I also lost a year of revenue. I started taking work from my biggest competitors to get by since my phone was not ringing. They were getting all of the business in the area since my SEO guy failed. They were receiving twenty to fifty calls per day. I was lucky to even get one. In a final desperate move I asked The Final Code for help. The Final Code was very different than the previous company. I walked into their office. They offered no secret back links, no empty promises. They laid out everything they were going to do, and everything I had to do to improve my results. Within two months I had several key words on not only the front page of google, but a few of them were the top search result, and they had reports which allowed me to see all the key words I need to improve upon to continue growing. The difference in my business has been incredible. I went from nearly going bankrupt in December to hiring my first employee in June, and I am completely overwhelmed with business. The Final Code saved my business. I really can't thank them enough. To top it all off Larry and Amber have been a genuine pleasure to work with. I can't recommend them enough.
    Bryan Castro Google review, Jun 30, 2016
  • The Final Code was very patient in trying to fulfill all my requests. Carlo worked with me to set up my website for my tax preparation business and he also provided a good training session to manage my website. I feel confident in using my website and I know I can come to ask Carlo if I have any questions.
    Luis Huapaya Google review
  • My wife and I operate a company in Ventura County which provides assorted janitorial and commercial cleaning services. We contacted The Final Code because we had several existing websites and various online listings ran by several different people. Our online presence was a mess and were paying a web company for services we couldn't necessarily verify, we couldn't manage our own website if we wanted, we weren't sure if people were visiting our site and it wasn't a great feeling. We met with The Final Code to help us tie up all of those loose ends, built a new website for our company to attract more users to help generate more business. Thankfully, The Final Code was understanding and was able to work within our budget. We now have these issues resolved and the new site is climbing the Google rankings weekly and is now a page one on several main search terms. We received a lot of of valuable advice on SEO, search engine optimization, and they continue to work with us to progress upward in our online presence. I appreciate that The Final Code staff has been so patient and they are always available whenever we have questions or concerns. They have also trained us on how to update and edit our site so that we are free to make changes when necessary. One of the best parts of working with them is that I'm able to walk into their office and know I will be taken care of. This year The Final Code is building several new websites for separate organizations of ours and we're excited to continue collaborating with The Final Code! Thanks everybody for making our company online presence successful and helping to increase business
    Ken Duff Google review
  • Through my experience, web marketing companies are like used car salesmen... Thousands to choose from, difficult to trust, and are filled with empty promises. The Final Code is exactly the OPPOSITE! Larry, James, and Carlo are always fantastic to work with and know their business inside and out. From SEO to web marketing tactics, I trust them completely with the online presence of my company. They take their time to personally make sure that I am happy with their service and provide REAL statistics (not just Google analytics) behind any changes made to our site They provide valuable insight and ideas on how to grow your online presence and then can execute those ideas immediately (or train you on how to make changes yourself)!. The interface that accompanies their service is easy to use and gives you access to change / update anything that you would ever want to. I highly recommend The Final Code for any of your SEO / Web Marketing needs.
    Justin Engelbach Google review
  • Larry and the team at The Final Code in Ventura literally breathed life back into my business. At the time I hired The Final Code, I had invested thousands of dollars in ongoing website “optimization” with another company. Despite that effort, my law office website was nowhere to be found when it came to the core of my practice – potential clients searching for either criminal defense attorneys or DUI attorneys in my local area. As soon as The Final Code took over care of my website applying their innovative approach, I experienced a dramatic increase in the number of calls I received for DUI and all other criminal cases. I not only skyrocketed to the very top of DUI searches, I have maintained a consistent, top-ranked placement over the last six months. The Final Code team has a passion for helping clients that is evident in all they do. Larry, Carlo, James and team were always at the top of their game and, I felt, sincerely committed to helping me achieve real results. They went out of their way at all points to help me through the process, to aggressively make results-oriented changes, and to communicate with me in a way that made me feel valued as a client. Most importantly to me as a client, everyone at The Final Code conveyed to me that they truly cared about the welfare of my business and did so in an ongoing way. Recognizing the ever changing nature of internet marketing, the team at The Final Code has gone out of their way to keep my website fresh and at the top through expert monitoring and continual innovation. In the website business, the professionals at The Final Code are people of honor and that’s saying a lot. I whole-heartedly recommend The Final Code. You can trust the team to get you the results you want and to do so with dedication and integrity.
    Jennifer Zide Google review