Unsolicited spam via Google Photos

I have just started to receive unsolicited, spam photos today, from 3 unknown accounts. They come up as notifications on my phone, is Google doing anything to stop this spam from happening?? Yes, i have blocked each one and left the conversation. Im assuming there will be more. What is Google doing to prevent this type of spam?

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S Pradakshina

Community Manager

May 7, 2024

Hey everyone!

We're aware of the ongoing problem of spam in Google Photos and are continuously working to improve our defenses to combat it. In the meantime, continue to block accounts that send you spam if you haven't already. To block a person in a shared album or conversation:

Open the Google Photos app.
Open the conversation or album that they’ve joined.
a. For shared albums, at the top, tap More > Options.
Next to the person’s name, tap More > Block person.

You can also report the content as spam:

Open the Google Photos app.
Open the shared album or conversation you want to report.
At the top, tap More > Report abuse.
Choose the reason for your report.
Tap Report.

Visit the Google Photos Help Center to learn more about blocking & reporting in Google Photos.

Thanks,
Google Photos Team

Last edited May 7, 2024

Community Manager S Pradakshina recommended this

Helpful?

All Replies (5)

User 7425788445758274658

Feb 23, 2022

I'm having the same problem since yesterday. So far I've blocked about 10 different users and still have more coming through!

janvb

Diamond Product Expert

Feb 23, 2022

@ micquelle andrys & User 7425788445758274658

A similar complaint is posted here: https://googlesupport.serverhump.com/photos/thread/151903228

I will escalate this to Google. Thanks for signaling.

Eda Bean 3023

Feb 24, 2022

this has been happening for years.
you will usually get three messages per spam/scam post. the one with text in it can be reported as abuse.
the pic and the link however you get no option to report.

google will not fix this until google losses money from it.
they will however send you a thank you for every abuse report.

why stop the scams when it makes people have to log into their photo's to block and leave a convo?
they have incentive to NOT fix this.

its called engagement, the more you click on their crap and potentially see an ad, the more data they can mine from you to sell.

same as the spam and bot accounts on youtube, they add value too googles product and google are all too happy to reap the rewards of people being scammed

as for pointing this out to google or "signaling" https://googlesupport.serverhump.com/photos/thread/150209692?hl=en
we have been asking for a fix for years but our comments get deleted..

Last edited Feb 24, 2022

janvb

Diamond Product Expert

Mar 9, 2022

I was asked to post this:

"If you're willing to grant Google permission to examine your account to investigate and resolve the issue, please send feedback from Google Photos as explained here under "Send feedback to the Google Photos team" and be sure to include this text:
I grant permission to examine this account for the purpose of resolving #b_223254366""

S Pradakshina

Community Manager