Fake Google ReviewTactics & Techniques for Removing Fake Google Reviews

Fake Google Reviews: More Common Than You Think

Here’s the unfortunate truth: fake Google reviews, as damaging as they can be to your business, are far more common than you might like to believe.

Google took down 170 million policy-violating reviews in 2023. The internet giant also removed 12 million fake business profiles and thwarted 2 million attempts to hijack legitimate ones.

Unfortunately, they won’t be able to catch every single fake review. And, the spam, scams, and account takeover (ATO) attacks that precipitate those fake Google reviews hurt everyone, including searchers, customers and, most of all, merchants.

Why Fake Reviews Occur

Not all fake Google reviews are negative; some express positive sentiment.

Positive fake reviews can happen when businesses use “black-hat” techniques to manipulate local search engine rankings, to instill false confidence in their goods or services, or illicitly bolster their reputations. Merchants may also entice customers to leave positive reviews in exchange for discounts or gifts.

Soliciting reviews is not against Google’s terms of service. But, explicitly requiring buyers to leave positive reviews in exchange for incentives is a violation of search engine policies.

Meanwhile, “bad” fake reviews can occur when competitors attempt to sabotage rivals, or when disgruntled customers or members of the public create multiple accounts to poorly review targeted businesses en-masse.

Both positive and negative fake Google reviews are becoming more common. A Search Engine Land investigation revealed that, between 2022 and 2023, the volume of policy-violating reviews on Google rose by 45%. That’s because widely accessible tools like generative AI and automated account creation scripts are making fake-but-believable reviews more prevalent, and more difficult to detect at the same time.

Impact of Fake Reviews on Businesses

Fake reviews are harmful, no matter the sentiment expressed. They mislead customers, unfairly damage or enrich a business’ reputation in the marketplace, and run contrary to the principles of good faith and fair dealing.

Fake reviews can also make customers less likely to buy from you, which could cause you to lose out on revenue and profits. If an excessive number of fake reviews are detected and removed by Google, the search engine may penalize or even close your account, which could have consequences if your Google profile drives a significant portion of your sales.

None of this is hyperbole. In 2024, a Dallas-based virtual receptionist business called Conversational received an influx of fake reviews that, according to the Associated Press, “led to a dip in new client inquiries and some worries among existing customers.”

Meanwhile, a dental practice in New Jersey was similarly targeted “by fake and erroneous reviews by people with no connection to his office.” Owner and dentist Avi Israeli laments that the fake reviews have “significantly tarnished [Sage Dental’s] reputation, and are unfortunately very difficult, and costly, to get removed.”

New regulatory efforts aimed at cracking down on bogus reviews could ease some of these woes. In August 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) under then-commissioner Lina Khan announced a final rule that would prohibit the purchase, sale, or creation of reviews “by someone who does not exist, such as AI-generated fake reviews, or who did not have actual experience with the business or its products or services, or that misrepresent the experience of the person giving it.” Penalties are steep: violators can be fined up to $51,744 per incident.

How to Identify Fake Google Reviews

While there’s no foolproof way to spot fake Google reviews, you can be on the lookout for some red flags. These include:

• Overly Enthusiastic or Critical Language: Calling an eatery the “best restaurant ever” or “worst experience ever.”
• Lack of Specifics: No mention of products or services purchased, time of visit, or interactions with staff.
• Text Only: The review is not accompanied by any photos or videos to substantiate the claims made.
• Suspicious Content: The review includes irrelevant filler phrases, or mentions a competitor’s product without context.

Beyond the content of the review itself, the account the review originated from may also contain signs that lend credence to (or shed doubt on) the legitimacy of the testimonial:

• Odd Behavior Patterns: Look for accounts that leave just one or two reviews, or accounts that appear to leave reviews at the same set of businesses.
• Sporadic Appearances: Accounts that leave reviews in different locations, with no apparent “home base.”
• Clustered Posting Dates: A large number of reviews posted in a short period of time can be a sign of bulk review generation.
• Vague or Duplicated Language: Multiple reviews that are equally vague, or that appear near-identical in content or sentiment.

When Can I Report a Fake or Abusive Review to Google?

Suppose that you encounter a suspicious-sounding Google review. You do some sleuthing, check out the reviewer’s profile, and it raises several common red flags.

You’re confident the review is fake. So, can you report it to Google? And if so, how?

According to Google’s policy against prohibited and restricted content, reviews can be removed if they are deceptive; in other words, they reflect fake engagement, impersonation, misinformation, or misrepresentation. Reviews can also be removed for inappropriate content and behavior. This includes:

• Harassment
• Hate speech
• Offensive content
• Personal information
• Obscenity and profanity
• Sexually explicit content
• Adult-themed content
• Violence and gore
• Restricted, dangerous, or illegal content
• Child abuse or exploitation
• Terrorist content
• Off-topic content
• Advertising and solicitation
• Unclear and repetitive content
• Defacement and mischief

How to Report Fake Google Reviews

If you believe that a fake review violates Google’s content guidelines, you can follow these steps to report the review:

Already submitted your report, but want to check the status of a flagged review? Follow these steps:

Let’s say your report got rejected. If you feel strongly that the review is fake, you can submit a one-time appeal:

#1  |  In the Review Management Tool, click on “Check the status of a review I reported previously and appeals options”

#2  |  At the bottom of the page, select up to 10 reviews to appeal, then click “Appeal eligible reviews”

#3  |  Click “Continue”, then “Submit an appeal”

#4  |  Fill out the appeal form in the new tab that appears.

You will receive an email informing you of the decision. If your appeal is accepted, the review will be removed. If your appeal is pending, you’ll see a status that reads Escalated - check your email for updates in the Review Management Tool.

How to Get Fake Google Reviews Removed

The only way to get fake Google reviews removed is to forward them to Google via the Review Management Tool.

We should note that not all fake reviews that are submitted for removal will be removed once flagged. And, that you only have one opportunity to appeal a review removal that was previously denied, so you’ll need to give it your best shot.

As part of your appeal, you’ll have the opportunity to explain which Google policy the fake review violates. You’ll also have the chance to provide supporting evidence to justify your claims. Responding promptly and professionally during the appeal process can make or break your case.

Next Steps: Is Legal Action an Option?

If you encounter fake reviews made by real people, you may be able to take legal action against those reviewers.

Obviously, this is an expensive, time consuming, and cumbersome process, so you should only retain a law firm to combat fake reviews as a last resort. That said, if you are being harmed by one or more identifiable bad actors in a systematic and pervasive manner, you may be able to recover damages — or at least have the review retracted — with the help of an attorney.

Preventative Measures: Tips to Prevent Fake Google Reviews

Like combating chargebacks, the best way to minimize the harm from fake Google reviews is to prevent them from occurring in the first place. There are several strategies you can try that can help you improve your odds here:

No amount of good behavior on your end can guarantee that you’ll have fake reviews removed without a hitch. But, aggressive or dishonest behavior on your end almost certainly guarantees worse outcomes.

Need Help Fighting Fraud?

Fraud, whether in the form of fake reviews or invalid chargebacks, can harm your reputation and put a dent in your cash flow. Fighting fraud, however, is a high-stakes process that requires you to respond within a short timeframe and present a substantial amount of compelling evidence — all while getting it right the first time.

At Chargebacks911®, our dual-layered chargeback prevention and representment solutions can help you preserve revenue and keep fraud at bay. Reach out to us for a no-obligation ROI analysis today.