A Google Places Help thread has confirmation from Google that Google may request to see your business license as verification to post your listing in Google Maps.
A person who places a request to be listed in Google Places asked:
I received an email from [email protected]. They are requesting a scanned copy of my business license. They sent the request to my business email and not to the email I used to create my listing. I just want to know if this is a legitimate request and not some scam.
Google representative, Vanessa, responded that this request is indeed from Google. Vanessa said, "Just to confirm: Yes, that request is from the Google Places support team. "
This is the first case I have seen Google request business documentation for verification in the Google Places directory.
Is this Google going overboard or just a situation where Google has no other way to verify this business?
Forum discussion at Google Places Help.