April 1, 2025 - If you’re involved in the digital marketing world, chances are you’ve heard it all. “Your listings are broken.” “We can get you to #1 on Google.” “We’ll wipe those 1-star reviews.”
But how many of these bold claims are legit? Spoiler alert: not many.
At Melon Local, we’ve seen quite a few of these and the damage they can cause firsthand. Let’s break down five of the most common scams targeting business owners like you — and how you can avoid getting duped.
1. “Your Listings Aren’t Optimized”
Here’s a common scenario: A random company calls or emails, claiming your business isn’t popping up online or your listings aren’t optimized or “messed up.” They’ll urge you to act fast and pay up — without ever showing proof. The reality? They’re usually wrong or pointing to platforms that don’t matter. Thankfully, if you’re with Melon, we’re already monitoring and optimizing your listings on platforms that actually move the needle — like Google and Yelp.
2. “We’ll Make You #1 on Google — Guaranteed”
Sounds great in theory, but in reality? No one — not even Google — can guarantee a number one ad spot. Rankings change constantly based on a variety of ever changing factors. Anyone selling you a fixed top spot is just trying to seal the deal. As for Melon Local, we prioritize what we can control: smart strategy, constant optimization and maximizing your ROI every single week.
3. “We Can Delete Your Bad Reviews”
This one gets a lot of attention because let’s be honest — no one loves a 1-star review. But unless a review violates platform guidelines, it’s not going anywhere. Some businesses unknowingly hire companies who promise they can erase negative feedback, but what they don’t tell you is that they often use shady tactics like fake flagging or fake positive reviews to push down the bad ones. Not only is this unethical, but doing this can also hurt your search ranking. We don’t play that game. Instead, we help you respond the right way, earn more real reviews and build a healthy reputation that actually lasts.
4. “We’ll Block All Your Existing Customers from Seeing Your Ads”
Some companies claim they can completely prevent your current customers from seeing your ads — so every impression goes to someone new. While audience exclusions are possible, it’s impossible to guarantee perfection. Most businesses don’t have the data needed to make this work flawlessly, and anyone promising 100 percent accuracy is just embellishing the truth. Smart targeting is about balance, not gimmicks — and that’s where we focus our energy.
5. “The Domain Renewal Letter Scam”
This one shows up in your physical mailbox and looks legit. You receive a letter saying your domain is about to expire, and you’re asked to send a check or pay immediately to keep your website live. These scams are sneaky — because they can look like real invoices and use language meant to create urgency. But they rarely come from your actual domain registrar. Typically, domain renewals always happen through your account dashboard or email — never by mail. Pro tip: If you’re not sure, log in to your domain provider directly. Or, better yet, enable auto-renew and domain privacy to avoid future stress.
No Tricks Up Our Sleeves (Just Quality Leads)
You deserve more than flashy promises and smoke screens — you deserve a team that’s actually invested in your growth. At Melon Local, we roll out the green carpet, bring the receipts, and deliver the results you deserve. If you’re ready for a fresher approach to digital marketing, then let’s talk! Schedule your demo today!