The same commenters - some of which Google Maps describes as "Local Guides" - also have commented on dozens or hundreds of businesses that don't exist at all.
The fake business entries are basically using Google Maps place locations for SEO and presumably, referral lead gen. Create dozens of business places with random addresses throughout a metro area, name them after a service that someone might enter ("Heating repair"), and list a Web site or phone number. Wait for less-savvy consumers search or stumble across them and call.
Among the dozens or hundreds of fake Google Maps businesses that this network has touched, here's two:
"Top Grade Rolling Firm": https://www.google.com/maps/place/Top+Grade+Rolling+Firm/@38...
Some of the fake reviews for nonexistent businesses even include photos:
"Santiago Appliance Repair Service": https://www.google.com/maps/place/Santiago+Appliance+Repair+...
That address is actually a random suburban house, not an appliance store.
Some of the fake businesses have gone undetected for years, and in that time, have collected a few real reviews from people who called and didn't receive the service. Here's one from "Heating Cooling Repair Services": https://www.google.com/maps/place/Heating+%26+Cooling+Repair... :
> If i could give them zero stars i would, don't waste your time.. I scheduled an appointment to fix my broken AC unit and was pleasantly surprised at getting an appointment the same week. I took off early from work to ensure I was home before the scheduled time. Nobody ever showed up, nobody called, and I called their number multiple times to see if maybe something came up and they never answered their phone.
Here's a Web site for one of these networks of fake businesses: https://nationalacservices.com/ . In that case, each fake Google Maps business links to a subdomain, like: https://lake-forest-park.nationalacservices.com/ .
Another: https://santiagoappliancerepairservice.us/
The fake Google Maps reviews are as generic as you'd expect. For example:
> I have been a patient at this medical laboratory for several years and have always had a great experience. The staff is friendly and efficient, and the facility is clean and well-maintained. I appreciate the quick turnaround time for test results and the ability to easily access them online. Overall, I have always received top-notch care at this facility.
The comments come from hundreds of Google accounts like these: https://www.google.com/maps/contrib/102638895982367652158/re... https://www.google.com/maps/contrib/111709777137583909632/re...
Google Maps doesn't have a way to report an entire account as a bot; one can only flag a specific comment. There's also no way to provide enough information for Google Maps' trust & safety team to understand what's happening and figure out how they're evading Google's bot detection. So, it continues unabated.