Everything You Need to Know About SEO Robocalls

A new search engine optimization scam has been gaining prevalence.  It involves a call from either Google or a company claiming to represent Google and threatens dire consequences if you ignore it.  Here’s how to recognize the signs that someone is trying to fleece you, and what you can do about it. 


The phone rings. It’s a number you don’t recognize.  Thinking it might be a prospective client or a business partner’s new phone line, you pick it up.


“Your Google listing has been flagged for removal,” says the ominous, robotic voice on the other end of the line. “It is not compliant with Google standards. To avoid removal, press 1 to be connected to Google Certified IT Support.” 


It’s enough to make anyone’s blood run cold. For most businesses today, their website is crucial to their success. Being removed from Google - meaning you’re no longer discoverable - would be catastrophic.


Before you panic, let me hit you with a few facts and figures. There are over 1.7 billion websites on the Internet. As of 2016, Google’s search engine knows approximately 130 trillion pages. Of these pages, it has indexed approximately 26 trillion of them, according to World Wide Web Size. 


Now, as you consider that level of scope and scale, ask yourself how likely it is that Google would select your website out of the billions on its search engine to be de-indexed. Ask yourself how likely it is that they would then contact you directly and work with you to fix the problem. Ask yourself how many staff the company would need to have in its employ to make something like that even remotely viable. 


By its own admission, Google will not notify you about SEO issues. It will, in rare cases, contact you about a potential de-indexing (though if your website is suspected of being hacked, it will be de-indexed without warning). This will not be over the phone, though - you’ll receive an alert from within the Google Search Console or via email. 


In other words, these calls are a blatant scam. Google’s own support site says as much

Google does not make unsolicited calls from an automated system...If you receive an unwanted call from someone who claims to be Google or working with Google, feel free to hang up at any time. Do not press any key even if the voice recording prompts you to in order to speak with a live person or to be taken off the call list. Pressing a key may lead to more unwanted calls.” 


So why do people keep engaging in these scams if Google has so clearly denounced them? Because these criminals play on fear and ignorance. They rely on people having incomplete knowledge of SEO, of people not understanding how Google operates. They’re basically the business equivalent of Windows tech support scammers.


At best, they’re trying to sell you on a fraudulent marketing scheme which will amount to little more than wasted revenue. At worst, they’re trying to steal your credit card data. And regardless of what their goal is, the best thing you can do is hang up.

About the author

Daniel Page is the Director of Business Development for ASEOHosting, a leading provider in SEO hosting and multiple IP hosting.

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