Google Reviews Guide
How to Remove Fake Google Reviews (Competitor and Malicious Reviews)
A practical guide for business owners dealing with fraudulent reviews from competitors, disgruntled individuals, or coordinated attacks. How to identify, document, and report fake reviews to Google.
Identifying Fake Reviews
Before you can remove a fake review, you need to confirm it's actually fake. This matters because flagging legitimate negative reviews wastes your time and credibility with Google. Here are the patterns that indicate a review is fraudulent:
Red Flags in the Review Itself
No specific details
Generic complaints like "terrible service" without mentioning what happened, when they visited, or who they interacted with.
Impossible claims
References to services you don't offer, hours you weren't open, or staff members who don't exist.
Promotional content
The review mentions a competitor by name or suggests going somewhere else instead.
Extreme language
Over-the-top negativity that doesn't match the nature of your business. "This place ruined my life" for a coffee shop is suspicious.
Red Flags in the Reviewer's Profile
New account with one review
Profile was created recently and your business is their only review. Could be a throwaway account.
Pattern of only negative reviews
The reviewer has multiple one-star reviews for businesses in your industry or geographic area.
Connected to competitor
Their profile shows they work at or own a competing business, or they've left positive reviews for direct competitors.
Geographic mismatch
Reviewer appears to be from another state or country, and your business only serves local customers.
Coordinated Attack Patterns
Sometimes fake reviews come in waves. Signs of a coordinated attack:
- • Multiple negative reviews appearing within a short timeframe (hours or days)
- • Similar language, phrasing, or complaints across different reviews
- • Reviews posted at unusual times (middle of the night, all at once)
- • Timing correlates with business events (competitor opening, negative press, legal disputes)
Documenting Evidence
Before flagging the review, gather evidence. This documentation serves two purposes: it strengthens your case with Google, and it creates a record if you need to pursue legal action later.
What to Document
- Screenshot the review: Full review text, star rating, and date posted
- Screenshot the reviewer's profile: Name, photo, review history, contributions
- Check your records: Sales, appointments, or customer databases for the reviewer's name
- Document the pattern: If multiple fake reviews, capture all of them together
- Competitor connection: If you suspect a competitor, document any evidence linking them
Important: Save URLs and take screenshots with timestamps. Reviews can be edited or deleted, and you want a record of what was originally posted.
Google's Reporting Process
Once you've documented the fake review, report it to Google. Here's the step-by-step process:
Step 1: Report from Google Business Profile
1. Log into your Google Business Profile at business.google.com
2. Click on "Reviews" in the left navigation
3. Find the fake review
4. Click the three-dot menu next to the review
5. Select "Report review"
6. Choose the most accurate violation category:
- Spam: For reviews from bots or fake accounts
- Conflict of interest: For competitor reviews
- Off-topic: For content unrelated to actual experience
- Harassment: For personal attacks
- Discrimination or hate speech: For protected category attacks
Step 2: Wait for Google's Response
Google typically responds within 3-14 business days. They'll either remove the review or notify you that it doesn't violate their policies. Don't flag the same review multiple times while waiting. That doesn't speed up the process.
Step 3: Check Review Status
After a few days, check if the review is still visible. If it's gone, you're done. If it's still there and you haven't received a response, prepare for escalation.
Escalation When Google Denies
If Google doesn't remove the review after your initial flag, you have escalation options:
Contact Google Business Profile Support
Phone or chat support often has more authority than the automated flag system. Here's how to approach the conversation:
What to say:
"I flagged a review that violates Google's conflict of interest policy. The reviewer's profile shows they are the owner of [Competitor Business], which is a direct competitor. I have documentation showing [specific evidence]. The review was flagged on [date] but hasn't been removed."
Be specific about which policy was violated. "This review is fake" is less effective than "This review violates the conflict of interest policy because the reviewer owns a competing business, as shown in their public LinkedIn profile."
Submit a Reinstatement or Removal Form
Google has specific forms for businesses to appeal review decisions. Search for "Google Business Profile review removal appeal" to find the current form. Include all your documentation.
Social Media Escalation
As a last resort, some businesses have had success reaching out via Google's official social media accounts. This is hit-or-miss, but coordinated attack victims sometimes get attention this way.
Legal Options for Fake Reviews
When Google won't remove a fake review and it's causing real damage to your business, legal action is an option. Here's what to know:
Defamation Claims
To succeed in a defamation case, you generally need to prove:
- 1. The review contains false statements of fact (not opinions)
- 2. The reviewer knew or should have known the statements were false
- 3. You suffered actual damages (lost business, harmed reputation)
"Worst restaurant ever" is an opinion and protected speech. "They gave me food poisoning and the health department shut them down" when neither is true is potentially defamatory.
Court Orders for Removal
If you win a defamation case or obtain a judgment that content is false, you can get a court order requiring Google to remove the content. Google complies with valid court orders, making this the most reliable removal method for truly defamatory content.
Cost Considerations
Legal action is expensive. Defamation cases typically cost $5,000-$20,000+ for a single review. This only makes sense for reviews causing significant business damage or as part of a larger case against a specific bad actor.
Case Study: Successful Fake Review Removal
The Situation
A local dental practice received four one-star reviews within 48 hours. Each review complained about "rude staff" and "overcharging," but contained no specific details about appointments or procedures.
The Investigation
The practice owner noticed that all four reviewers had similar profile patterns: accounts created within the past month, only one review each, and profile photos that appeared to be stock images. None of the names appeared in patient records.
Further investigation revealed that a competing dental practice had opened two blocks away the previous month.
The Response
The owner documented everything: screenshots of all four reviews, screenshots of each reviewer's profile, evidence that none appeared in patient records, and timing correlation with the competitor's opening.
They flagged all four reviews citing "spam" and "conflict of interest," then called Google Business Profile support with the documentation.
The Outcome
Three of the four reviews were removed within 10 days. The fourth remained, so the owner responded professionally noting they had no record of the patient and inviting them to call the office. The response showed future patients that the practice was responsive and that the review was questionable.
Dealing with Fake Reviews?
We help businesses document fake reviews, navigate Google's reporting process, and build review profiles that can withstand occasional attacks. Our team has experience with competitor review removal and coordinated attack response.