Is the Google real estate lead generation program real?

This question comes up every so often in Facebook groups (where I saw it today) and other online communities, and it's about something that's been making the rounds for a few years, at least.

Real estate agents get an email or text that looks like this:

It sounds kinda legit because Google has an advertising program called Local Services Ads that charge on a per lead basis, similar to what's described in this message.

It looks kinda legit, too, until you get to the bottom and see the URL: view-realestate.online. That's a dead giveaway that this is fake. If such a program existed, it would live on a more legit/real domain.

The bigger issue, regardless of the URL, is that this program simply doesn't exist. Google is not in the business of generating leads and farming them out to real estate agents, a lá Zillow, HomeLight, etc.

So if you get one these emails or texts, don't click the link or call the number or whatever the CTA is...just delete it.

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