17-6-2023 (LOS ANGELES) Alphabet’s Google has taken legal action against Ethan QiQi Hu and his companies, filing a lawsuit in San Jose, California federal court. The tech giant accuses Hu of creating hundreds of fake business listings on Google platforms and selling them to real businesses with the intent to deceive unsuspecting customers.
The proliferation of fake reviews has been an ongoing issue on e-commerce websites. In an official statement, Google stated that the lawsuit aims to “help put an end to these types of malicious schemes.”
Hu has yet to respond to the allegations.
According to Google’s lawsuit, Hu devised a scheme involving sham businesses that would appear in the company’s search engine and Google Maps. To validate these fake listings, Hu employed an intricate setup of props during video calls with Google’s agents.
The lawsuit revealed that Hu used a tool bench as a prop to authenticate fraudulent listings for services such as garage repair, tree cutting, plumbing, and even fake businesses offering aromatherapy and reiki therapy using essential oils.
In an attempt to lend credibility to these businesses, Google claims that Hu purchased thousands of fake positive reviews. He would then sell the profiles of these fictitious businesses as “leads” to genuine businesses operating in the same industries. As a result, the real businesses would receive inquiries from potential customers who believed they were reaching out to the fake establishments.
Google alleges that Hu created more than 350 false profiles, supported by a staggering 14,000 illegitimate reviews.
The lawsuit accuses Hu of false advertising, unlawful business practices, and violating Google’s terms of service. Google is seeking unspecified damages and an injunction to prevent Hu from engaging in further misconduct.
The case, titled Google LLC v. Hu, is currently being heard in the U.S. District Court of the Northern District of California, with the docket number 5:23-cv-02964.
