Google (GOOGL.O), a subsidiary of Alphabet, filed a lawsuit against a Los Angeles man and his companies on Friday in a federal court in San Jose, California. The New Google lawsuit alleges that the Los Angeles man produced hundreds of phony business listings on Google’s platforms and sold them to legitimate businesses in order to deceive customers.
On e-commerce websites, fake reviews have proven to be a persistent and ongoing problem. In a statement, Google explained that it had taken legal action against Ethan QiQi Hu in order to “help put an end to these types of malicious schemes.” Google’s case was filed in California.
A request for comment was made to Hu, but he did not react right away.
According to the lawsuit filed by Google, Hu is responsible for creating fake companies that are included on Google’s search engine and Google Maps. Hu allegedly uses a “elaborate set of props” to authenticate the legitimacy of these firms during video chats with Google’s representatives.
According to the lawsuit, Hu maintains a work bench as a prop in order to check bogus advertisements for garage repair, tree cutting, and plumbing. Hu also allegedly maintains an inventory of essential oils in order to validate phony aromatherapy and reiki therapy services.
According to Google, Hu purchases thousands of phony good ratings in order to give the appearance that his enterprises are real. After that, he allegedly sells the profiles as “leads” to actual firms operating in the same fields as the bogus businesses. These real businesses then receive communications from prospective clients who reach out to the false businesses.
Google stated that Hu had constructed more than 350 phony profiles, which were supported by almost 14,000 reviews that were not genuine.
In the case, Hu was accused of engaging in deceptive advertising and illegal business practices, as well as breaking the terms of service for Google. Google filed a petition with the court asking for an undetermined sum of money in damages as well as an order to stop Hu from allegedly engaging in wrongdoing.
Hu is the defendant in the lawsuit that was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California as case number 5:23-cv-02964.
Whitty Somvichian of Cooley is the person you’re looking for, Google.
No information about an attorney is currently known for Hu.
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