In an unusual digital incident, West Chester’s Voice of America Centre shopping mall temporarily appeared as “Voice of Mexico Center” on Google Maps and search results, highlighting potential vulnerabilities in online business listings.
The unexpected name change was discovered when shoppers noticed the mall’s altered name in Google search results while the shopping centre’s official website continued to display its original name.
The outdoor shopping complex, situated off Voice of America Drive in West Chester, Ohio, became the subject of public confusion and security concerns.
Local shopper Carol Neuzil expressed surprise at the unauthorized modification, stating, “Who did that? I mean, that’s ridiculous. It’s been Voice of America for many, many years.” Fellow shopper Frank Sciutto similarly noted the peculiarity of the situation.
Cybersecurity expert Dave Hatter suggested the incident was likely a “prank, trolling-type incident.” He explained that such changes could occur either through a failure in Google’s verification process or through compromised email credentials associated with the business listing.
The timing of the incident coincided with President Donald Trump’s executive order to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America,” though no direct connection between the events has been established.
Mid Atlantic Properties, the mall’s developer, acknowledged the unauthorized change and worked to restore the original name. By Monday afternoon, the listing had been corrected to reflect the proper name: Voice of America Centre.
The incident serves as a cautionary tale for businesses regarding digital security. Hatter emphasized the importance of robust email security measures, including sophisticated passwords and multi-step verification processes.
He warned that compromised email accounts could lead to more severe consequences, such as unauthorized communications and potential financial fraud.
Google’s business listing modification process typically includes multiple verification steps designed to maintain listing integrity.
The platform requires businesses to verify changes through various methods, depending on factors such as business category, public information, and regional location.
These verification processes can take five business days or more to complete depending on the method chosen and other factors.
This incident highlights the growing importance of digital identity management for businesses and the potential vulnerabilities in online listing platforms, even those with established verification processes.
