11 Dec 2009

Florist accused of changing rivals' details on website

8:21 pm on 11 December 2009

Business owners are being warned to check their internet listings after a Napier florist allegedly changed her competitors' details on a website.

A woman is before the courts charged with accessing a computer for a dishonest purpose.

The co-owner of Flowers by Tanya in Hastings, Richie Davies, says he was shocked and angry when he first discovered his business listing on the Google Maps website had been changed.

He says all business owners need to go onto the website and claim their companies before someone else does.

Mr Davies says there is no way of gauging the impact the changing of details has had on his business, or on the six other florists targetted.

Police believe this is the first case of its kind in New Zealand.