Just took a weird call from "Google"

[WaftyCrank]

OK very odd phone call. I just spoke to a guy called James from Google apparently (tel 01226 784000) offering me free advice for 30 days on my new adwords account as soon as it goes live.

Has anyone heard of Google doing this before? It seemed very suspect to me. He said he'd like to pencil in a call back for later in the week when I'm in front of the computer and my account to help me set up the advertising.

Anyway I explained that I'm familiar with Google and adwords in general and that I'll be fine in setting up my campaign. He asked me if I'm sure because they have recently updated a lot of optimisers and people usually jump at the chance of free help from Google. I politely again declined and he said OK and thanks for your time.

All very pleasant but it rang very very odd to me so thought I'd avoid it.

Has anyone else come across this before?

 

[doodlebug]

Unless you're spending £10,000 + per week on adwords then I doubt they are personally calling people, there's far to many people using it, besides any updates or tips I get are all messages when I lopg into my account.

I would ignore this guy :-|

Ran a check on the number and 1 site says it's Google relating to their adwords, however that was only posted in March 2011 so could be the scammers theirselves ?

 

[QualityNonsense]

Heard of phone calls from Google reps like this. Their UK office is in Victoria, with the Adwords stuff handled via Dublin though, not sure about that phone number.

 

[aZooZa]

It was on TV recently as a scam. They're SEO companies trying to get you to part with your dosh apparently. Google spokesman said they NEVER solicit by 'phone.

 

[doodlebug]

It was on TV recently as a scam. They're SEO companies trying to get you to part with your dosh apparently. Google spokesman said they NEVER solicit by 'phone.

In that case can everyone click this link and on the post where it says thumbs up or down ? click down, I just did the first one

scammers post claiming the number is genuine to Google

Make sure you click thumbs down on the original post and not mine where I quoted him and I put the words SCAM

 

[WaftyCrank]

Thanks everyone. Confirmed my thoughts at least.

 

[WaftyCrank]

One thing is still troubling me on this, if it were an SEO company after my hardish earned british pounds; how did they know that (a) I had recently set up a new adwords account and (b) have access to the telephone number used to set up that account?

 

[aZooZa]

Perhaps spyfu.com and a Google search for your number?

 

[WaftyCrank]

Perhaps yes, but I've not actually set up my campaign yet so while the account has funds there are no ads running and never have been on my new account.

 

[wb]

If they call again ask them to send you a message from a Google.com email account. That was the advice given on a radio interview with a Google employee.

Could of course be someone passing off as Google, however I did read somewhere on here a while ago that they are apparently opening up their own call centres to cut out the PPC companies claiming to be them.

 

[getmein]

I've had a few calls over the years from people who claim to be 'from google' - and what's frightening is if you didn't know how google actually operate (i.e. avoid any human contact with all but the biggest customers), you could easily be taken in.

I'm 99% sure it's a scam call - but if not, then lucky you, to have a google rep

 

[Pred]

yes, echo comments made earlier
most people have never spoken to fb or google lol, it's really amazing how big they have come when they communicate and deal or answer queries from almost no-one

almost certainly a scam seo company passing off as google
been a big thing about google coming after these people, so they better look out if they try it on with a large company that does regularly speak to google and they tip google off

either company i would tell to piss off personally, especially google. theyre the biggest scammers going 8)

 

[Systreg]

If they call again ask them to send you a message from a Google.com email account. That was the advice given on a radio interview with a Google employee.

That's not great advice from Google, as many scammers/phishers will be spoofing emails to appear from the company they say they are calling from.

I had a spoofed phishing email today from @hmrc.gov.uk saying I've overpaid my tax for the last tax year, and to download the attachment for details on how to get my tax rebate, many people will fall for this simply because of the spoofed email address.

<unrelated> @ Getmein, just looked at the vending machine site in your sig, what are you using for the directory on that site?</unrelated>

 

[WaftyCrank]

Thanks for the all the responses. I genuinely believe it is NOT Google contacting me. However it is still confusing me how they knew I'd setup a new account and had my contact number.

 

[doodlebug]

Thanks for the all the responses. I genuinely believe it is NOT Google contacting me. However it is still confusing me how they knew I'd setup a new account and had my contact number.

Someone at Google selling info maybe just like T mobile staff was doing

 

[newguy]

From looking online people have received calls from this number claiming to represent Orange as well as a student loans company. Maybe they just try out loads of different scams. I definitely don't think it's google.

 

[aZooZa]

See my previous post and sleep easy. It ain't the Goog. Stand on me.

 

[Frog]

Google can and do call up account holders and offer them free optimisation, but its also a scam used by seo companies so you do need to be careful.

Google offer optimisation from both ends - both to adwords advertisers and adsense publishers.

Once you can ascertain that it really is Google, you need to be even more careful Your best interests and theirs are definitely not aligned...

As an advertiser, its in your best interests to squeeze every last bit of profit out of your campaign spend.

From Googles point of view their ideal scenario is broad match bidding and spending as much as possible, leaving you just enough profit left over to want to keep running the ads. It would make sense for them to keep bleeding you, and leave you just enough scraps left over. These employees doing the optimising have targets to meet and bosses to please, you would be making a huge mistake to think they have your best interests at heart. I would suggest taking absolutely no help from Google at all.

 

[Retired_member41]

Google can and do call up account holders and offer them free optimisation, but its also a scam used by seo companies so you do need to be careful.

Google offer optimisation from both ends - both to adwords advertisers and adsense publishers.

Once you can ascertain that it really is Google, you need to be even more careful Your best interests and theirs are definitely not aligned...

As an advertiser, its in your best interests to squeeze every last bit of profit out of your campaign spend.

From Googles point of view their ideal scenario is broad match bidding and spending as much as possible, leaving you just enough profit left over to want to keep running the ads. It would make sense for them to keep bleeding you, and leave you just enough scraps left over. These employees doing the optimising have targets to meet and bosses to please, you would be making a huge mistake to think they have your best interests at heart. I would suggest taking absolutely no help from Google at all.

lol spot on post, indeed google do call people, especially those who use google adwords vouchers.