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Facts checked

Google’s AI called your business: is it real?

The short answer

Probably real if it only asks about a booking, a price, availability or your opening hours. Google says it never asks for payment, card details or passwords. You can turn these calls off in your Google Business Profile.

How to recognise it

  • It asks one practical question for a person who searched on Google: a booking, a wait time, a price, whether something is in stock, or your opening hours.
  • It may say it is calling from Google or that it is an automated service, and that the call may be recorded. Google records calls made for customers.
  • Google does not publish the numbers it calls from, so the caller ID will not prove it either way.

Is it legit?

Google really does make these calls. It calls for people using Search and Maps ("Ask for Me" and similar features), and it calls or texts to confirm your business details. Google says it limits repeat calls and avoids late-night and early-morning hours. It is only offered in some regions and languages.

How to stop it or set your terms

  • On the call, say: "Please stop calling my business." Google says it honours this.
  • In your verified Business Profile: business.google.com > More > Business Profile settings > Advanced settings > "Google automated calls and text messages". Turn off the options you do not want.
  • For texts or WhatsApp messages from Google, reply STOP.
  • Check the setting again after a while: some owners report it switching back on.

What to say to the caller

  • "Who is the booking for, and what number can we reach them on?"
  • "We take bookings online at [your booking page]. Please book there."
  • "Please stop calling my business."

Red flags: probably a scam

  • It says Google will remove or close your listing unless you pay or stay on the line.
  • It offers to "verify" your profile or raise your ranking for a fee. Google does not charge for this.
  • It asks for money, a card number, a password or a code sent to your phone.
  • It threatens that your listing will disappear or be marked closed unless you act now.
  • It cannot tell you who the customer is or how to reach them.
  • It pushes you to press a key, install something or open a link from a text message.

Set your terms once, for every AI caller

Agent Terms by snuepi is a free public registry: you say whether AI agents may contact you, on which channel, how often, and which booking rules apply. Agents that check the registry follow it, and you can print a door sign for staff.

Set your terms for free

Report a call

Tell us about an AI call your business got. It takes a minute, needs no account and no personal data. Reports help other businesses tell real agents from scams.

The caller ID you saw, if any.

For example: what it asked for, whether it said it was an AI, whether it booked something.

What would you have wanted? (tick any)

Only if you want to hear back.

We store the report without your name. Read our privacy policy.

Frequently asked questions

Does Google charge to keep my business on Maps?

No. Google says it never asks for payment to list or rank a business, and never asks for your password or verification codes by phone.

Will turning off the calls hurt my ranking?

Google does not say. Its help page describes the setting but does not link it to ranking.

Why did Google call several shops in my street?

"Ask for Me" can call several businesses for one request, for example to compare prices for the same service.

Other AI callers

Sources

Disclosure: snuepi wrote this page and runs the registry it links to. The facts about each caller come from the sources listed at the bottom.