A Napier florist is thought to be the first person in New Zealand to be charged with maliciously changing the website details of her competitors.
Kendra Drinkwater, 40, has been charged with using the Google search engine dishonestly, causing loss to seven Hawke's Bay florists.
Police allege she accessed the sites, using various names, and altered addresses, phone numbers and website details of businesses over a period of a month, in an apparent bid to divert potential customers.
Richie Davies, the owner of Flowers by Tanya in Hastings, said it was frightening how easy it was to alter details.
It was a matter of simply clicking "edit" on the company's details on Google Maps.
"There's no way of telling how great an effect it has had on our business. People have to know how easy this is for someone to do. It's just so scary," he told the Dominion Post.
Emma McIlroy, of Napier store Florist Gump, alleges Drinkwater changed the website details of her business to floristgimp.co.nz.
"It's been very frustrating. All the florists around here get on. We're in the middle of a recession, we need all the business we can get."
Google spokeswoman Annie Baxter it was the first report of "editing with ill intent" in New Zealand and warned business owners to register as the verified owners of their sites to stop others hacking their details.
Wellington Internet expert John Clegg, who has developed software applications for Google Maps, said he was surprised how easy it was to edit the details. It was common behaviour in India, where he had worked some years ago.
"This sort of thing will become increasingly common here as things get more competitive.
"Anyone thinking about breaking the law this way should be aware that it is very easy to track."
Drinkwater is due in Napier District Court this month.
