Fake reviews—whether from competitors, disgruntled ex-employees, or random trolls—can damage your reputation unfairly. Here is how to handle them.

Signs of a Fake Review

Reviewer has no other reviews or only negative reviews
Review mentions things that do not match your business
Review appeared after a competitor opened nearby
Reviewer name does not match any customer records
Review is vague with no specific details about the experience
Multiple negative reviews appeared at the same time

How to Report Fake Reviews

Go to the review in Google Maps or Search

Find the specific review on your business listing

Click the three dots menu

Select "Flag as inappropriate" or "Report review"

Select the violation type

Choose the reason that best describes the issue

Wait for Google to investigate

This can take days to weeks. Follow up if needed.

How to Respond While Waiting

Google may not remove the review, so respond professionally in case it stays up:

"We have no record of this experience and cannot verify this reviewer as a customer. We take all feedback seriously and encourage anyone with genuine concerns to contact us directly at [contact info] so we can address them."

Prevention is Best

The best defense against fake reviews is having many real reviews. A high volume of genuine positive reviews makes occasional fake ones less impactful on your overall rating.

How to Handle Fake Google Reviews