Will Google ever call my business about my profile?

No. Google does not make proactive support calls to business owners. If someone calls claiming to be Google support, hang up.

What happens if a scammer gets into my Google Business Profile?

Once added as an owner, they can remove you, change your business name, phone number, and website, and redirect your calls. Recovery can take weeks, during which your local rankings crater.

Does changing my GBP primary category trigger reverification?

Not on its own. Inconsistencies elsewhere on your profile or a lack of matching content on your website are what actually trigger reverification. A drastic, unrelated category change is also more likely to trigger a review than a logical refinement.

GBP Scam Alert: How Hackers Try to Hijack Your Google Business Profile

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By NewSunSEO May 4, 2026

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Scammers are calling local businesses posing as Google support, trying to trick owners into handing over verification codes and ownership of their Google Business Profile. One of our clients almost fell victim, and the playbook is now hitting businesses nationwide.

How the Google Business Profile Hijacking Scam Works

Scammers often follow a common playbook to steal Google Business Profiles.

They call posing as Google support. The scammer calls your business claiming to be from “Google Business” or “Google My Business Support.” They sound professional and may even spoof a legitimate-looking phone number.
They create urgency. Common scripts include: “Your profile has a violation that needs to be fixed immediately,” or “Your listing is about to be suspended.” The goal is to make you panic so you act without thinking.
They ask you to verify your account. They will instruct you to click a link or accept a verification code sent to your phone. What you are actually doing is approving a request to add them as a manager or owner of your profile.
They take ownership. Once added as an owner, they remove you, change your business name, phone number, and website, and can even redirect your calls to their own number or a competitor.

The damage is severe: Customers calling you get redirected. Negative edits appear on your profile. Recovery can take weeks, during which your local rankings crater.

How to Protect Your Google Business Profile Right Now

Google will never call you unsolicited. If someone calls claiming to be Google, hang up. Google does not make proactive support calls to business owners.
Review your GBP managers and owners monthly. Go to your Business Profile, click on Business Information, then People and Access. Remove anyone you do not recognize.
Never accept verification codes from someone on the phone. A verification code is a key to your account. Do not hand it to anyone.
Enable two-factor authentication on the Google account tied to your GBP.
Use a dedicated Google account for your business profile, not your personal Gmail.

Will Changing Your GBP Primary Category Trigger Reverification?

This is one of the most common questions we get from clients.

Sometimes, but not always.

When you change your primary category, Google takes a closer look at your entire profile. If anything else appears inconsistent or unverified, that is what triggers reverification, not the category change itself.
Google will usually re-crawl your website after a category change. If your site does not have content matching the new category, that raises a red flag.
A drastic, unrelated category change (plumber to restaurant, for example) is far more likely to trigger reverification than a logical expansion or refinement.

If your category change makes sense for your business and your website supports it with relevant content, you will almost always be fine. We can update categories for our NewSunSEO clients without reverification issues.

How to Show Up in Google’s AI Mode (Ask Maps)

Traditional local SEO was relatively straightforward: optimize your GBP, build citations, earn reviews, and rank in the Local Pack. AI Mode changes the game significantly.

Here is what makes AI local SEO different:

AI gives different answers to the same query each time. There is no fixed “rank 1” like in traditional search.
AI looks at the entire internet, not just your GBP and website. What review sites, forums, local directories, and social media say about you all feeds into AI responses.
Queries are more conversational and specific. Instead of “dentist Miami,” AI gets queries like “dentist in Miami less than a mile from me who specializes in broken teeth.” This means your GBP description, services, and all profile details matter more than ever.

The New GBP Description Opportunity

Here is an interesting shift: Google’s GBP description was historically ignored in traditional local ranking algorithms. That is changing with Ask Maps. Research shows that Ask Maps actively reads your business description to answer detailed, specific queries. The more informative your description, the better your chances of being surfaced for long-tail, conversational searches.

Action item: Rewrite your GBP description to be rich with specific services, specialties, neighborhoods served, and unique differentiators, not just generic marketing copy.

What This Means for Long Island and NYC-Area Businesses

Local businesses in competitive markets like Long Island, Nassau County, Suffolk County, and New York City have the most to gain from getting ahead of these changes now. Most of your competitors are still optimizing for the old Local Pack model. Early adopters who build AI-visible profiles, earn broad third-party mentions, and write detailed GBP descriptions will have a significant head start.

If you want help auditing your Google Business Profile for scam vulnerabilities, category optimization, or AI Mode readiness, contact NewSunSEO for a local SEO review.

Wondering if your own business shows up in ChatGPT, Gemini, or Perplexity? Check your AI Visibility score with a BizScoreAI scan, which can generate a prioritized list of fixes.