Spam is on the Rise: How to Spot It and What to Do About It
Conscious Commerce • September 20, 2024
Ever felt overwhelmed by SPAM (Sending Persistent Annoying Messages)? Check out our latest article for some solid tips on tackling this digital menace. While the acronym might be a joke, SPAM is no laughing matter—it’s something every business needs to address seriously.
Spam is no longer just an annoyance in your inbox. Whether it’s phishing emails, unwanted ads, or sketchy links, spam has evolved, becoming harder to detect and even more dangerous.
But the good news? You don’t have to be a victim. With a bit of awareness and the right tools, you can protect your business by staying ahead of spammers.
Why am I Getting So Much Spam?
Getting bombarded with spam emails? There are a few reasons why this might be happening:
- You’re on a mailing list: One of the main reasons for an uptick in spam is that your email address has been added to a mailing list used for newsletters, promotions, and marketing. Sometimes, your email gets added without your knowledge or consent.
- You clicked on a spam email: If you’ve accidentally clicked on a spam email, you’ve likely confirmed to the sender that your email is active, which can trigger even more spam.
- Your email was shared or sold: When you shop online or sign up for services, your email might be shared or sold to third-party marketers who enjoy flooding inboxes with spam.
- Weak spam filters: Your email provider’s spam filters may not be catching everything. Spam filters aren’t foolproof, and sometimes unwanted email marketing sneaks through.
What to Watch Out For
Awareness is key when deciding if something is spam. Spammers are always trying new tricks to get you to click, so staying alert is the first line of defence. Here are a few things to look for:
- Suspicious links: Trust your gut if a link doesn’t seem right. Hover over the link to preview where it’s taking you before clicking. If it looks off, don’t engage.
- Unexpected attachments: If you don’t expect a file, don’t open it. Attachments are a common way spammers sneak in malware.
- Strange sender names or addresses: Check email addresses carefully. A slight misspelling or an unfamiliar name can be a major red flag.
- Urgent or unusual requests: Spammers love creating urgency. If an email demands immediate action, like sending money or clicking a link, slow down and verify.
How to Deal with Spam
Once you’ve identified spam, don’t let it pile up in your inbox. Here’s what you can do with it:
- Block and report: Most email platforms let you block and report spam with a few clicks, which helps improve spam filters for everyone.
- Never engage: Don’t click on any links or reply to the sender, as this can show that your email address is active and potentially fill your inbox with unwanted solicitation.
- Filter your inbox: Set up filters to automatically sort potential spam into a separate folder so it doesn’t clutter your inbox.
- Update security settings: Two-factor authentication and tight email security settings can deter spammers from accessing your account.
- Unsubscribe from mailing lists: If your inbox is full of unwanted promotional emails, chances are you’re on a mailing list without knowing. Most legit newsletters and marketing emails have an “Unsubscribe” link at the bottom. Just click it, and you’ll go to a page where you can remove yourself from the list.
Why Awareness Matters
At Conscious Commerce Corporation, we value awareness. Whether you're identifying spam or managing your business, staying informed helps you stay in control. Knowing what to look for puts you in a better position to make good decisions.
With spamming, awareness means watching for signs of suspicious emails, avoiding potential scams, and protecting your personal data from becoming compromised. It helps prevent costly mistakes like phishing attacks, malware, identity theft, or financial loss.
In a business sense, awareness keeps you ahead of the curve. It helps you prepare for challenges, stay on top of market trends, and make informed decisions that drive success.
Don’t Wait to Take Action
Spam isn’t going away anytime soon.
Conscious Commerce Corporation can protect you from unwanted intrusions and keep you ahead in the marketplace with tools and strategies that help you stay sharp and in control.
Schedule a call with us today to explore customized solutions that fit your business objectives.
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Table of Contents Notifications | Data Sharing | Advanced Settings
Once you have created your Google Business Profile, you will need to complete the verification process before it can be shown publicly. Verification methods are automatically determined by Google, are based on your business type, public information, region, or business hours, and can’t be changed. In some cases, you may need to verify your business with more than one method. Methods include: Video Recording Record a 30+ second, unedited video proving you are the owner of the business and it is located at the address indicated in the profile. Phone or Text When you select this method, you will get a call or text with a code Email This method will have you receive an email with verification steps Live Video Call Similar to the video recording, you will join a live video call and show the support representative key details proving your business ownership and locations Mail A postcard will be sent to the address associated with your profile within approximately 14 days. On the postcard will be a secure verification code. What's Next After you complete the verification steps, Google reviews the info you provided. To help maintain the integrity of your Business Profile, verification review can take up to 5 business days. Once the review process is complete, you will receive a notification email. If your verification was approved, your profile will be visible to the public. If your verification was not approved, you will have one of these three options to proceed: Re-Verification When the “Get verified” button appears on your Business Profile again, it means Google couldn’t completely verify your business. To fix this issue, try to re-verify your business. Review Issues When you verify through a video recording and get a “Review issues” notification, it means your video wasn’t accepted. To fix this issue: Select Review issues . Follow the on-screen instructions. Give Additional Information If you’re asked to provide additional info to re-verify your profile, it’s likely because some of your business details were recently updated.
The most commonly used verification method for Google Business Profiles as of 2025 is video verification. This process involves uploading a video that captures key details about your business and helps Google confirm that you represent the business. Before you start Take the time to plan your video. You can’t record a video offline and then upload the file for verification later. Your video will need to be at least 30 seconds long and unedited. Your video recording should not include: Any sensitive information like bank account, tax, or identification numbers. Any other private information about yourself or others. Other people’s faces. Video Requirements For Storefronts Important: If your business doesn’t have permanent on-site signage, it's not eligible as a storefront and should be listed as a service-area business. Videos must show: The location of your business: Capture the official street and number signs, nearby businesses, recognizable landmarks, or the area around your business that shows your business is at the correct Google Maps location. Evidence that your business exists: Capture the storefront, showroom, or business signage. Show your business name printed on permanent fixtures, such as a signboard, wall, or window. The business name shown in the video must match the name of your Business Profile. Demonstrate proof of management: You can show that you’re authorized to represent your business by recording employee-only items or areas. Record yourself opening a cash register, accessing a point-of-sale system, unlocking the store, staff room, kitchen, or storage room. Video Requirements For Service-Area Businesses Videos must show: The location where you offer your services: Good examples include signs in your service area that advertise your business or street signs and landmarks next to your business. A bad example is land that can be present anywhere or unmarked land. Show evidence that your business exists: Capture branded work equipment, marketing materials, services or products for sale, or tools you use to serve your customers. Good examples include recording yourself unlocking a van with your business name on it or branded t-shirts for employees or customers. Demonstrate proof of management: You can record yourself providing the service or showing business documents. For example, business registration, invoices, or utility bills that match the name on your Business Profile.
If you’re a business owner but a verified Business Profile for your business on Google Search or Maps is owned by someone else, you can request ownership from the current profile owner.
As an owner of your business's Google Business Profile (GBP), you can add users to the profile. Each user will get their own access and you won't need to share login information.
When you add and verify your Business Profile, customers can find your business on Search and Maps. To make sure your business is eligible to show up on Google, verify your Business Profile . After you successfully add or claim your profile, you can control how your business information shows up on Google. You can add or claim your business at no charge. If you have questions about profile verification, check the Business Profile community .
Your Google Business Profile may be suspended or disabled for "not following Google's guidelines ". If you believe that it should be reinstated or that you have updated it to conform to the guidelines, you may submit an appeal. Submitting an Appeal Step 1: Prepare Your Evidence Once you begin your appeal process and open the evidence form, you will have 60 minutes to submit the form, or it will not be attached to your appeal. Evidence that you may be requested to attach includes things like your official business registration, a business license, and tax certificates. These documents must match the business name and address that you have listed on the Google Business Profile. Step 2: Submit Your Appeal Open the Google Business Profile appeals tool . If you’re signed in to the Google account related to the profile you want to appeal, select Confirm. To select a different account, select Switch account. Select the Business Profile that you want to appeal > Continue. The Google Business Profile appeals tool shows: The restricted profile The reason for the moderation action A link to the violated policy At the bottom right, select Submit Appeal. Optional: A prompt to submit evidence may appear. To strengthen your appeal, we highly recommend submitting evidence. To open the evidence form, after you submit your appeal, select Add evidence. Select Submit. Google will review your appeal and send you an email with a decision. Step 3: Check the Status of Your Appeal After you submit your appeal, you can stay aware of the status by doing the following: Open the Google Business Profile appeals tool . Make sure you’re signed in to the Google Account related to your Business Profile. Select the Business Profile for the appeal that you submitted. On the right, you’ll find the status of the appeal: Submitted Approved Not Approved Can't be appealed Eligible for appeal Optional Step 4: Request an Additional Review If your reinstatement request is denied, you may be able to request an additional review to prove your eligibility. In this review, you can submit more evidence that was not added to your original appeal.
You can have only one Business Profile for each business. Multiple profiles for the same business may mislead your customers and are against Google's policies. If a profile is considered a duplicate, it won’t show on Google Search or Maps. Understand Why Profiles are Marked as Duplicates There are several reasons why a profile may be considered a duplicate: Existing verified profile: A verified profile already exists for the same business on Google. Same address: Multiple profiles have the same address. Different services: Multiple profiles exist for the same business that offer different services. You can refer to the following guidance to resolve situations with duplicate profiles.
Your Google Business Profile houses a lot of important information about your company. Keeping this information up to date will help to ensure your clients can confidently make informed buying decisions. The areas we will go into in this guide are : Address Hours Service areas Description Social media links Attributes Categories
