In Woodland Park, two competitors, both chimney sweeps, joined forces to alert the public about Google hackers. Tonnya Fahr, who owns Safeguard Chimney Sweep, invited John Kilik to her home last week to go public about the hacking.
Kilik, who owns Skyline Chimney Sweep, had never met Fahr but they hit it off immediately because each is an economic victim of the hackers.
The two are working with the FBI cyber-crimes unit to try to identify the hacker.
Fahr and Kilik have been in business 24 and 40 years, respectively, in Woodland Park.
“We are well-known in the community,” Fahr said. “We are respected and reputable.”
The problem stems from the Google search engine. In a time when the telephone book is an antique, businesses use Google as a marketing tool, providing their company name, address, and phone number.
A Google search for Safeguard comes up with “Chief Chimney Sweeps,” and a false phone number. Kilik found that his Google listing had changed from Skyline Chimney Sweep to Blue Ray Chimney Sweep.
“The hackers change the name and the phone number,” Fahr said. “It’s a mess.”
In some cases, customers call the false number, schedule an appointment, and then nobody shows up, Fahr said.
Sometimes, however, someone does show up and asks for a $69 fee for an initial estimate. Fahr and Kilik never charge a fee for an estimate, they said.
In an informal spy operation, an acquaintance of the Kiliks called “Blue Ray” and refused to pay the $69 up front. In this case, someone did show up. Rather than answer the door, the Kiliks took photos of the car, a late model black Chevy Tahoe.
Despite the “mess,” the positive is that faithful customers of both businesses call the phone numbers of each – numbers that have remained the same for decades.
For the correct number for Safeguard, call (719) 687-1234. For Skyline, call (719) 687-0550.
