How to Use Call Quality Feedback to Improve LSA Performance

You’ve worked hard to build your Google Business Profile (GBP)—gathering reviews, optimizing your listing, and maintaining your online presence. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, things start to go wrong:

Your business information is changed or removed
Your reviews start disappearing
You get hit with a flood of fake negative reviews
Your profile is suspended without warning

If this sounds familiar, you might be experiencing Google Business Profile sabotage—a tactic some unethical competitors use to damage your reputation and steal your leads.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to identify sabotage, how to protect your listing, and what steps to take if you’ve been targeted.

How Competitors Sabotage GBP Listings

Unfortunately, GBP sabotage has become more common as competition in local search intensifies. Here are the most common tactics:

1. Fake Negative Reviews

Competitors (or bots they hire) post 1-star reviews to damage your rating and credibility.

2. Suggesting Edits

Anyone can suggest changes to your GBP, including:

Business name
Phone number
Website
Categories
Hours of operation

If these edits are accepted by Google’s automated system, it can mislead customers or render your profile useless.

3. Reporting Your Listing as Spam or Duplicate

Bad actors may falsely report your listing to trigger automatic suspensions or get it flagged for manual review.

4. Keyword Stuffed or Fake Listings in Your Area

Competitors create fake profiles with spammy names to outrank you in the local pack—even if they don’t serve the area properly.

How to Tell If You’re Being Targeted

Watch for these warning signs:

Sudden changes to your GBP information that you didn’t make
An unusual spike in negative or vague 1-star reviews
Multiple reviews posted from accounts with no history
Your profile gets suspended after a competitor’s profile is updated
You notice spammy listings outranking you despite fewer reviews or legitimacy

If you suspect sabotage, act quickly. The longer issues go unaddressed, the more your visibility and trust suffer.

Step-by-Step: What to Do If You’re Being Sabotaged

1. Lock Down Your GBP Account

Ensure only trusted team members or your agency have access.

Use a secure email with 2-factor authentication
Audit your GBP users and remove any unknown accounts
Reject any suspicious changes immediately in the dashboard

2. Monitor Suggested Edits Daily

Google often implements “suggested edits” automatically. Go to your profile weekly (or daily during an attack) and:

Review all business information
Revert any incorrect changes
Take screenshots for documentation

3. Flag and Dispute Fake Reviews

For each suspicious review:

Go to the review
Click the three-dot menu and select “Report Review”
Choose the most accurate reason (e.g., “Spam” or “Conflict of interest”)
Submit a support request via the Google Business Profile Help Form

Include:

Screenshots
Context (e.g., no record of the customer)
Pattern of suspicious behavior

Google may take a few days to respond—but multiple reports can lead to removal.

4. Report Spammy or Fake Competitor Listings

Use Google’s Business Redressal Complaint Form:
https://support.google.com/business/troubleshooter/2690129

Provide:

Business name and address of the fake listing
Screenshots showing the violation (e.g., keyword stuffing, fake location)
Explanation of how the listing violates Google’s guidelines

Spam listings often rank temporarily—but enough legitimate reports can get them removed.

5. Appeal Suspensions Promptly

If your profile gets suspended:

Visit the Google Business Profile Reinstatement Request Form
https://support.google.com/business/troubleshooter/2690129
Submit required documents (license, utility bill, photo of signage, etc.)
Clearly state that your business was targeted and provide evidence

Reinstatement typically takes 3–14 business days. Having an experienced partner can help you fast-track the process.

6. Track Your Listing Activity and Rankings

Use GBP management tools or platforms to monitor:

Review volume and rating trends
Ranking fluctuations in the local pack
Profile edit history (manually or through third-party tools)

Having data will help you respond quickly and support your case with Google if needed.

Proactive Tips to Prevent Future Attacks

Turn on review notifications to catch negative reviews immediately
Keep all business documents current in case you need to verify identity
Encourage consistent positive reviews to outweigh bad actors
Use Geo-tagged photos and on-site signage to verify location legitimacy
Work with a trusted Google Partner like Local View to monitor and protect your listing

When to Get Professional Help

If sabotage is recurring, or you’re unable to recover your GBP performance after disputes, it’s time to bring in expert support.

At Local View, we’ve helped hundreds of local businesses:

Remove fake reviews
Restore suspended profiles
Eliminate fake competitors from the map
Secure their GBP against future attacks

Final Thoughts: Don’t Let Competitors Win by Playing Dirty

Your Google Business Profile is one of your most valuable assets. While sabotage is frustrating, it’s also manageable—with the right mix of vigilance, reporting, and strategic support.

The key is to stay calm, act fast, and document everything. Google does take action—but it’s up to you to make the case.