Google's autocomplete feature no longer contains the word scam. The autocomplete feature offers results based off search volumes (i.e., if you're seeing something suggested, it is being heavily searched for). However, search queries containing the word "scam" are now filtered out, forcing users to type in scam for themselves rather than see it offered as a top suggestion.
This raises the question did Google remove it because people were manipulating search queries, causing the derogatory search queries containing the targeted business name + "scam"?
Google has showed on multiple occasions (like the BitTorrent keyword removal), that the autocomplete feature is a constant work in progress. The most recent update is good for everyone except users who are thinking about buying from scammers, but even so they should be researching not solely on suggestions from Google's keyword suggestions!
In the long run, it will be lesser of the two evils by not populating spam-related keywords next to business names. Besides, if the company is a scam, the actual entries in the index are still going to be there. You're just on your own when it comes to finding them.
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