This time from Utah company Local Verifications.
Last week I wrote about another company using robocalls to sell people on search engine services such as updating their Google business listing.
Yesterday I received another one of these calls on my cell phone from a different company. This time the perpetrator was Utah company Local Verifications.
The robocall, which came from a local number 512-999-7240, started with a message suggesting that I’m not the only person getting barraged with calls about updating my Google listing.
“Are you tired of getting phone calls about your google listing?” the friendly voice asked.
Why yes, I am. Especially since I don’t have a Google local business listing!
The robocall patched me through to a sales person, who stated that his company Local Verifications is a Google Certified Partner. He explained that, since Google doesn’t have resources to contact everyone, they partner with companies like his.
I asked him how he got my number, and he explained it was from resources because his company is a Google partner.
So I went to the company’s website at LocalVerifications.com to take a look. Interestingly, although the site contains badges suggesting that its “clients” include YouTube and Yahoo, there’s no Google partner badge.
I asked the caller about this, and he explained that they were having website coding issues with the partner badge, so it was recently removed. But he informed me I can search for Google Certified Partners and look them up.
…So I did. On the phone, in real time. I couldn’t find the company when I searched the Google Partners database. The telemarketer then started typing in his company name in multiple ways in the search and said it also wasn’t coming up. He then noted that other companies like Local Lighthouse, which update Google listings, don’t show up either. (That’s no surprise, given that Google is suing Local Lighthouse.)
The telemarketer then said his company has a Google Partner ID, which can be used to verify the company. When I asked for it, he said he used to have it but doesn’t have it available any more.
Why was Local Verifications bothering me in the first place? Well, apparently it connected my cell phone number with a mortgage company, perhaps through a Google search.
The company offered to help me fix the Google Listing for this business, one that says the business is permanently closed, for a one-time $359 fee. For $399, they can also help with Apple Maps and Bing.
To help close the deal, he mentioned the Better Business Bureau, that his company is regulated by the FTC and is PCI complaint.
Let’s unpack these first two, because they are amusing.
The Better Business Bureau does indeed have a record for the company…a record of F. In fact, Local Verifications has railed against BBB, saying it’s not accredited by the BBB because it thinks the group is unfair. Why is the caller promoting BBB when its site says it’s not accredited and doesn’t believe in it?
It’s even more amusing when you look at Local Verifications’ website, under the “Our Clients” section:
Yes, that’s a logo suggesting the company is BBB Accredited with an A rating. Seems at odds with the page on its website saying they aren’t accredited, doesn’t it?
That might be an FTC or trademark violation, which brings us (in part) to the FTC claim.
The telemarketer explained to me that the company is regulated by the FTC. Because of this, they record all phone calls. If I later say they didn’t deliver on something they promised on the sales call, I can ask for a recording of the call and they’ll email it to me.
Hmm. At this point, I asked if the FTC is also the same company that handles the Do Not Call List. Yes, he replied.
I told him this was strange, because the number he called was my cell phone and is on the Do Not Call list.
He said that the Do Not Call list doesn’t apply to business phone numbers.
I explained that I’ve never heard of the business he called me about, and I’m not sure why the number would show up somewhere as being connected to a business.
He said if you Google my phone number, it shows up as being associated with a business. He then pointed out a Google result connecting my number to a business. Much of the information on that page was false, and it appears the data was pulled from very old whois listings from 15 years ago.
Even if my number was connected to a business, do they not scrub the numbers they call against the Do Not Call list?
No, he replied.
I also asked him why they called from a local number if they’re in Utah. He said that most of the businesses they call still only have a landline (so?) and that it cuts down on long distance charges.
The good news is that my phone call was apparently recorded. So I asked him if they’d email a copy to me.
He said no, only if I’m a customer.
So I guess I need to pay $359 to have incriminating evidence against Local Verifications.
The kicker? I received yet another robocall from the company later in the afternoon.
Ugh!
I got one today. I ask what a Google was, that I never heard of them. They explained it was search engine. I replied ‘like Alta Vista’. He had never heard of taht engine and thought it may be a new engine. He explained how people can find me with local listings. I told him I had a guy with a sandwich sign that walked behind a juggler. That attracted attention to my business making buggy whip applications. At that point he was totally lost, but kept pressing. I asked him to send em details to my address in c/o Emmie, the cat in charge of marketing. He said he cannot email this special deal. I asked what email was. (I am also trying very hard not to crack up). I also noted his local number and asked why not stop by since he was using a local exchange. He told me he was based in Seattle. At that point I had enough fun and a real client called me.
If we all wasted 15 minutes of their time, they would soon tire of this.
If they called your cell and you are on the DNC you can make a lot of money….
All these phone numbers are spoofed. Never respond, press buttons to be removed or call them back. Just block the numbers.
Unfortunately, automated callers (particularly the unscrupulous ones) give no option to opt out, despite local laws.
Even more offensive is when you do get called by a real person instead of a machine, but before you get the chance to ask them to remove your number from their records they realise you’re not interested and hang up on you!
Listen to Arco. So chances are that if you have a google voice phone number they will text you if you don’t answer. These are aggravating. But again just do as Arco said. Its a scam. Do not acknolowedge them.
Waste of time dealing with these jerks.
The owner of this company has been ripping people off for years now. It originally started as xurli, then xerly, then local verifications, then main streat marketing aka main street marketing. The owner has also tried changing names from Jerrod Robker to Jerrod McAllister. Don’t ever trust that guy or any company he’s affiliated with.
Hi,
My name is Jerrod Robker Mcallister. I am a Scammer / Telemarketer out of Cedar City, Utah and I utilize multiple different numbers to scam people. My old failed companies include Xurli, Xerly, local verifications, main street marketing, a trucking company, red hills automotive, University Auto Sales, the list goes on. I have previously been charged for cyber terrorism and will continue my ways until I get caught again. I like to stalk everyone I come in contact with to attempt taking advantage of them but I’m a complete failure and screw even my own family over to try and get ahead. I have Failed at every business I have done as all I do is scam and screw people over. Sometimes I even go to church so people think I’m not a fake, but they all know the fakest person in the room is me because I’ve run from California up to Washington and now I’m hiding out in this little town in Utah and have stolen so much from everyone in this small town of Cedar City, Utah that people are beginning to get to know me very well.
Call me anytime on how to learn how to scam people but watch out, I’m also a gay child molestor, so make sure to not have your kids hanging around.
949-910-1542
[email protected]
These guys are still in business and still making illegal telemarketing calls. They keep calling my cell phone which has been on the FTC Do Not Call list for years. I have recorded calls where they stated they are Main Streat (sp) Marketing out of Cedar Lake Utah.
When I asked for a copy of their Do Not Call policy as required by the TCPA they hung up on me.
A search on Jerrod McAllister showed multiple links for lawsuits filed against his firm for violations of the TCPA and his toll free number is also listed for a company called Local Verifications, LLC with the name Jerrod McAllister associated with it. The BBB gives them an F rating, complaining “This business has a history of violating BBB name and logo policy and has falsely stated BBB accreditation ”
This guy needs to be in jail.
scam/spam/fraud/not legitimate google, bing, yahoo, and apple company or business-main streat marketing or main street marketing. 1-800-285-9919 Press 1. 1070 West 1600 South Suite 104 Saint George, Utah. It is behind the AllConnect building. Google Logo on door. It is now called Main Streat Marketing. Use to go by the name, Local Verifications, in Cedar City, Utah with a phone number of 1-800-282-9919. [email protected] https://mainstreatmarketing.com/about-us https://mainstreatmarketing.com/refund-policy https://secure.utah.gov/bes/details.html?entity=9587705-0160 https://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/local-verifications/cedar-city-utah-84721/local-verifications-jerrod-robker-beware-they-are-scam-artists-cedar-city-utah-1172102 http://msmrefundpolicy.com https://domainnamewire.com/2015/11/05/another-day-another-google-listing-call https://www.en.advertisercommunity.com/t5/Basics-for-Business-Owners/Mainstreet-Marketing-Requesting-Payment-to-Keep-Google-Listing/td-p/1095963 https://main-street-marketing.com
Read more at https://checkwhocalled.com/phone-number/1-800-285-9919
There are about 6-7 companies I know of, maybe more, based in Southern Utah (Saint George Area) using the name Local Listing name and doing the same thing as I mentioned above. Paying $10-$15 per hour to recruit new hires and then $25-$50 for each commission sale for Google, Bing, Apple, and Yahoo to supposedly update your outdated business listing on the web/internet. They have multiple Marketing companies down here doing this to scam peoole out of $299-$400 or more for a lifetime listing on the sites I mentioned.
Read more at https://checkwhocalled.com/phone-number/1-800-285-9919
And they are using various robocalls/phone numbers to repeatedly call your business over and over again.There are about 6-7 companies I know of, maybe more, based in Southern Utah (Saint George Area) using the name Local Listing name and doing the same thing as I mentioned above. Paying $10-$15 per hour to recruit new hires and then $25-$50 for each commission sale for Google, Bing, Apple, and Yahoo to supposedly update your outdated business listing on the web/internet. They have multiple Marketing companies down here doing this to scam peoole out of $299-$400 or more for a lifetime listing on the sites I mentioned.
Read more at https://checkwhocalled.com/phone-number/1-800-285-9919
And they are using various robocalls/phone numbers to repeatedly call your business over and over again.