By Amir Ibrahim, Pendletonian Times
PENDLETON, Ore. — Tracy Durant, owner of Blue Hawk Beads, says she was targeted by a phone scam involving her Google business listing.
Durant received a call claiming the listing had an error and that she needed to pay money to update it. She suspected foul play and quickly verified her ownership through the real Google Business Directory, resolving the issue.
On Facebook, Durant posted March 4 that “Google fixed my listing. Pretty sure it was a scammer that called pretending to be Google as she asked for money in order to verify my account. However, soon after a customer alerted me that Google said I was permanently closed.”
Durant didn’t pay any money and instead took action herself. The incident highlights the importance of being cautious of unsolicited calls or messages claiming to be from companies like Google.
Here are some tips to avoid similar scams:
- Be cautious of unsolicited calls or messages claiming to be from a company like Google.
- Verify the caller’s identity by checking the phone number or contacting Google directly through their official channels.
- Never pay money to resolve an issue with your business listing or account.
- Keep your Google Business Listing up-to-date and accurate, as this can help prevent errors.
Durant’s experience is a reminder for business owners to be aware of these types of scams and take steps to protect themselves and their businesses.
In other news, Blue Hawk Beads is hosting a trunk show, according to an events listing on the business’s Facebook page. The event will feature a vendor traveling from Tucson who will be selling products such as crystal orbs, stone beads, and rings. Blue Hawk Beads can be found at 33 Southwest Dorion Avenue in Pendleton.