Huge National Investigative Reporting Opportunity
The Chimney Sweep & Repair Industry (at large) is (desparately) asking for your help.
There is a crisis that has the potential to effect the safety of every homeowner with a fireplace or stove, ultimately resulting in more chimney fires and CO2 poisoning incidents.
The flip side of this crisis is that every Chimney Sweep & Repair company in the country is subject to being put out of business by scammers that are able to set up FAKE GOOGLE BUSINESS PROFILES. The Local Search for our member companies is off tremendously because the listings they have maintained for years are buried by unlicensed, uncertified and untrained scam artists who rip off consumers.
NOTE: Our Group will come to you in person to discuss this huge issue that affects the entire US economy.
Or we can set up an initial call or Google Meet to help your team understand the weight of this issue.
The service sector accounts for a HUGE part of the engine that drives our country, and when foreign adversaries infiltrate it, the results will not be good.
The Chimney Sweep vertical of the service business sector is a PRIME TARGET. Over the past 2 years we have seen an alarming take-over of Google Business Profiles by both foreign and domestic scammers. Google seems to actually be allowing these entities (that are clearly fake) to slip through their gates both in Paid “Google Ads” and in “Local Service Ads”.
We formed a group in late 2025 to discuss and combat this plague on our industry, but it is nearly impossible without media investigative power.
CURRENT RESOURCES
We are keeping this to one link so you can forward it or explore on your own.
This secure link contains the resources and research completed so far to combat this plague.
Includes – Kansas City & Seattle Local TV Coverage, Industry Magazine Article, NCSG Info & Media Resources.
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WHY NOBODY PAYING ATTENTION…
#1 — NON REGULATED
#2 — NON-LICENSED CONTRACTORS
#3 — NO CERTIFICATIONS REQUIRED
CHIMNEYS ARE AN EASY TARGET TO SCAM
A door has been blown wide open at Google for some folks to dominate if they choose to because Google is NOT PAYING ATTENTION. Now, is that intentional? We aren’t starting a conspiracy, but I think it is safe to say we all agree that Google makes its Trillions from PAID ADS, not from being nice to “our” Google Business Listings.
When someone has a Fake Review Network and generates 2 or 3 a day, they will shoot to the top of Google. It seems like they are flying right by ALL OF GOOGLE’S “SAFEGUARDS”.
Well-funded groups (one in Israel) are using fake reviews and unqualified locations to establish GBP listings very quickly. The rate of reviews suggest that this is impossible for a company that nobody has ever heard of to move into a metro and take over. The locations also don’t qualify under Google’s own rules, yet they sometimes pass through in a matter of days.
They also appeal to undereducated homeowners with “too good to be true” low price offers on Facebook to get into the target’s home and upsell them unnecessary and poor quality repairs. The next day they are gone in the wind. This HURTS legitimate companies by destroying their Local Google Rankings and reputation. These invaders are well funded and taking over the country market by market.
We have spearheaded the effort to actively report and remove scammers, and we will handle interviews with any media source that wants more direction and data on this effort.
We need publishers, editors, investigative reporters, etc across national and major local media outlets, with a focus on the investigative angle.
Official Involvement from organizations within the Chimney Industry – NCSG
The National Chimney Sweep Guild (NCSG) is taking a firm stand against the rise of fraudulent chimney companies falsely claiming association with our organization. The NCSG promotes safety, education, business development, and advocacy for its members. SCAMMERS are prone to abusing credentials and logos to mislead consumers into believing they are certified members of the NCSG, CSIA, NFI or other organizations. These deceptive companies pose a serious threat to our industry’s reputation and put customers’ homes at risk.
Once the scammer has the work, they typically perform substandard work with high prices and forced sales pitches that scare consumers into spending money. Unfortunately the consumer doesn’t find out about their problem until they have an even worse problem than they had before. When Chimney Repairs are done improperly you can almost always count on spending more to fix the other guy’s mistakes.
Ours is a quasi-regulated industry, priding itself on education and certifications. When these imposters come in and steal our business it hurts us and it hurts the consumer.
The NCSG Board voted to establish a Task Force to help consolidate the efforts this group and others have made to combat scammers. With this effort they hope to prompt action from the entities responsible for consumer protection, such as the FTC and State Attorneys General. They have compiled a list of complaint links for State Attorneys General and the FTC.
The National Chimney Sweep Guild (NCSG) is taking a firm stand against the rise of fraudulent chimney companies falsely claiming association with our organization.
The NCSG promotes safety, education, business development, and advocacy for its members.SCAMMERS are prone to abusing credentials and logos to mislead consumers into believing they are certified members of the NCSG, CSIA, NFI or other organizations. These deceptive companies pose a serious threat to our industry’s reputation and put customers homes at risk.
Once the SCAMMER has the work, they typically do substand work with high prices and forced sales pitches that scare consumers into spending the money. Unfortunately the consumer doent find out about their problem until they have an even worse problem than they ever did. When Chimney Repairs are done improperly you can almost always count on spending more to fix the other guys mistakes.
Ours is a quasi-regulated one, priding itself on education and certifications. When these imposters come in and steal our business it hurts us and it hurts the consumer.
The Invasion of the Sweep Scammers – Excerpts from Industry Magazine
Our Industry is in Danger – Scam Google Listings | Fake Reviews | False CSIA Certification Claims
Following in the footsteps of the Garage Door and HVAC scammers, many of these entities are based overseas, with one of the biggest actually in Israel! They get their leads and then farm them out. Operating under the radar, these entities are unlicensed and unregulated in many areas. They are not large enough to draw attention but are still significant enough to siphon off billions from local businesses, leaving unsafe fireplaces and chimneys in their wake.
Reclaiming The Chimney Sweep Trade from Digital Scammers
The chimney industry is facing a massive identity crisis and it’s happening right in front of you. On October 28th 2025, a group of about 20 professionals from the chimney sweep community gathered online to address a growing industry issue: the explosion of fake Google business locations on Google. This wasn’t just a one time venting session. This group has remained in constant communication, fighting the scammers who steal leads and put homeowners at risk.
Jerry Isenhour sat with Frank Motola and Stephen Allen to talk about where these ‘ghost locations’ and what can be done.
Excerpt from an interview with Jerry Isenhour, a chimney industry expert with 50 years of experience.
Jerry Isenhour: “It feels like a game of “whack-a-mole,” we get one suspended and two more pop up. Why is it so easy for them to get back on the map?”
Stephen Allen: “Because they’ve turned it into a science. They use fake documents and photos of a random door with a temporary logo taped on it to pass Google’s “verification”. These groups are well funded and generate billions in revenue funneled to their scam operation. They have the resources to get reinstated nearly every time they are reported and caught.”
Jerry Isenhour: “So if Google isn’t fixing it fast enough, what is our next move?”
Frank Motola: “We are moving past reporting to Google and going directly to the Media.”
CURRENT RESOURCES
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Additional Media & Press Files (Google Drive) – Access high-resolution assets, verified research documents, and additional visual files gathered during our investigation.
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Sweeping Magazine: May 2026 Issue (Issuu) – Read our co-authored feature article on page 6, featuring an exclusive interview with industry experts exposing the details of the digital scam epidemic.
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KSHB 41 Kansas City News Coverage – Watch the local investigative broadcast detailing how fake Google business listings are actively targeting and defrauding homeowners.
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NCSG Industry Alert: Questionable Google Practices – View the official warning and resource guide published by the National Chimney Sweep Guild regarding fraudulent digital profiles.
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Scammers Allowed to use Google’s Local Service Ads (LSA’s)
What does LSA mean
It means that this business has been verified by Google.
Details
- Has “legal” Google Business Profile listing
- Has “legal” Google Business Reviews
- Passed License Check
- Passed Background Check
THEY EARN THE GOOGLE BADGE OF CONFIDENCE!
https://support.google.com/
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This is laughable, since the fake scam chimney companies are all approved by Google!
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THESE ARE COMPANIES THAT HAVE BEEN REPORTED AS FAKE SCAMMERS
We are currently working on over 200 locations across the country in 5 scam networks.
Live Investigation Tracker: Reported Scam Locations (Google Sheets) – View our frequently updated national database tracking over 200 fraudulent scam network locations currently being escalated directly to Google for GBP and LSA licensing violations.
Go “Next Level” – Take it to the Street!
We’ve reached the point where the standard channels are failing us. Look at what happened with Next Level Chimneys in Seattle; they were wrongly suspended for months due to an alleged “glitch.” After the automated reinstatement process led nowhere, they took to the streets and protested right outside Google’s Kirkland office. It was only after that public pressure and the resulting Media Coverage that Google admitted their mistake and restored the business.
Video from King5 Seattle – False Removals of Legit Businesses is RAMPANT
We need to apply that same level of public accountability to Google at the National level.
CHIMNEY SWEEP & REPAIR COMPANIES
REPORT FAKE LISTINGS HERE FOR INVESTIGATION
Step 1: Suggest an Edit
The quick, automated report.
- Find the listing on Google Maps.
- Select Suggest an edit > Place is closed or not here
- Choose Doesn’t exist here.
Step 2: Official Google Report Form
The formal complaint with Google.
- Open the Business Redressal Complaint Form HERE
- Select > This business doesn’t exist
- Provide screenshots from Google Maps proving the location is fake.
Step 3: Escalate With This Form
The final follow-up.
- Save the Case ID from your confirmation email.
- Provide Case ID here to proceed with escalation.
The chimney industry is under attack by Sweep Scammers that steal business from honest local pros while charging homeowners thousands for dangerous, substandard work. These scammers hide behind fake locations and automated reviews, putting families at risk and draining the revenue that keeps legitimate small businesses alive. We’re standing up to protect both the craftsmen who do the work and the homeowners who trust them.