By Rachel Morton
A Napier florist is facing charges for allegedly hacking into and changing her competitors' details on the internet.
Kendra Drinkwater has accused of using false account names to change email addresses, phone numbers and listing some of the businesses as being located in China, Canada and the United Kingdom.
Zinnia Florists in Havelock North is one of seven businesses which claim listings on Google Maps were tampered with in a bid to divert potential customers.
They all claim Ms Drinkwater is the thorn in their side. She owns her own florist business, Napier Florists. Zinnia Florists' Natalie McKenzie says its business has suffered because of her actions.
"You can see on some Google local business centre analysis the hits that you get, and it spikes on the days previous and after her tampering it just flatlines out," says Ms McKenzie.
Ms Drinkwater has been charged with using Google Maps to dishonestly cause loss, which carries a maximum penalty of seven years' jail.
Google Maps publishes information about businesses by indexing the web. It is then up to businesses to register and claim that information, or they can upload it themselves.
It is alleged Ms Drinkwater impersonated the business owners and then changed phone numbers and website details, including changing Florist Gump's website details to Florist Gimp.
Netsafe says it is as simple as clicking the edit button, but this is the first case it has heard of.
"There are lots of examples of people changing a Wikipedia entry, or even gone as far as defacing people's websites to change information about companies, but never using Google Maps," says Sean Lyons.
A Google spokeswoman told 3 News it is rare to hear about edits made with ill intent. They encourage business owners to claim their listing in order to keep information up to date and control any changes.
Ms Drinkwater will reappear in court later this month.
3 News