Short answer: Text messages from (855) 593-9026 claiming to be “with Google” asking about your business on Google Maps are not from Google. Small business owners have been receiving this msg for months, and a Product Expert on Google’s own Business Profile Community forum flagged it as a phishing attempt in a Recommended Answer. The same scam is widely discussed in cybersecurity communities on Reddit. Do not reply. Do not click the link.
If you already responded, jump to What to do if you already replied.
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The message you probably received
The text typically looks like this:
By replying 1 if open for business; 2 if out of business; 3 if temporarily closed; 4 if never existed; STOP to Unsub; Standard SMS rates may apply
The link in the message often points to a real Google Maps listing for your actual business, which is what makes it convincing. But a real link doesn’t make the sender real.
Why this isn’t Google
Google does not verify business listings through unsolicited SMS. Legitimate Google Business Profile communications come through dashboard notifications, emails from verified @google.com addresses, or the Google Business Profile Help Center. They do not come from toll-free phone numbers asking you to reply with “1,” and they never ask for passwords, payment information, or other sensitive information over text.
In the Google Business Profile Community thread linked above, a Google Product Expert gave a Recommended Answer classifying the message as a phishing attempt, noting that “no one from Google would text you asking if my business number is correct.” Similar reports appear across multiple threads on the same forum and in cybersecurity communities on Reddit.
The scammers behind these texts are usually one of three things:
- Lead-gen companies harvesting confirmed business numbers from small business owners to sell to “Google Maps optimization” services (which are not affiliated with Google).
- Phishing operations that use the initial text to qualify live numbers, then follow up with phone calls where they ask for login details, verification codes, or payment information.
- Scam SEO vendors who use the implied Google affiliation to pitch unnecessary listing management packages, often claiming your business hours or listing details are wrong.
What to do right now
If you HAVEN’T replied:
- Don’t reply, not even “STOP.” Any response confirms your number is active and worth selling to other spammers.
- Block the number in your phone’s messaging app.
- Report it. In the US, forward the message to 7726 (SPAM). On iPhone, tap Report Junk under the message. On Android Messages, tap the three-dot menu and select Report spam.
- Delete the message.
You’re not in immediate danger, but take these steps:
- Check your Google Business Profile. Sign in at business.google.com and confirm your hours, address, phone number, website, and photos are unchanged. Look at the Users section and confirm no unfamiliar accounts have been added.
- Review your Google account security. Go to myaccount.google.com/security and check recent sign-in activity. If 2-Step Verification isn’t on, turn it on.
- Expect follow-up phone calls. Scammers often call or email a few days later pretending to be Google support. Treat any inbound contact from unknown phone numbers as suspicious, and don’t share sensitive information on calls you didn’t initiate.
- Watch your statements. If you gave out any payment information on a follow-up call, contact your bank and dispute anything unfamiliar.
- Never share passwords, 2FA codes, or payment details with anyone claiming to be from Google, even if they reference details from your listing.
How to tell a real Google message from a fake one
Real Google communications about your Business Profile:
- Arrive as in-app notifications inside the Business Profile dashboard
- Come from @google.com email addresses
- Don’t ask you to reply with numbered options over SMS
- Don’t come from toll-free phone numbers or unsolicited phone calls
- Don’t ask for passwords, codes, or payment over text or phone
- Don’t create artificial urgency
If you ever want to check whether a message is legitimate, ignore the message and go directly to business.google.com. Anything important will be waiting in your dashboard.
Managing your listing the right way
If your business info actually does need updating, the only safe path is through the dashboard: sign in at business.google.com and edit directly. If you need help, use the Google Business Profile Help Center. Nothing about maintaining a Google listing requires responding to a text message.
If you received a similar message from a different number, the guidance above applies. The number rotates; the script doesn’t.
Published on: 2025-07-28
Updated on: 2026-04-18
