How to Remove Fake Google Reviews

Originally posted on October 21st, 20,19 and updated on March 26th, 2025.

Fake Google reviews are incredibly frustrating. As a business owner, you're already aware of how crucial your online reputation is to attracting and keeping customers. 

You’re vigilant—monitoring, responding, thanking happy customers, and following up with those who aren't satisfied. But when a fake review appears, it throws a wrench into your carefully curated strategy.

The question is, what should you do when you come across a fake review? In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to identify fake reviews, how to respond, and how to protect your Google Business Profile (GBP) from the negative impact they can have.

How to Determine if a Review Is Fake

Sometimes, it’s clear that a review is fake. But other times, it can be difficult to tell if the review came from a legitimate customer or someone with an ulterior motive—whether that’s a disgruntled ex-employee, a competitor, or an internet troll. 

Here are a few things to check:

• Search your customer records: One of the easiest ways to verify whether a review is legitimate is to search for the reviewer’s name in your database. If you don’t have any record of them, it could be a red flag.

• Check their Google profile: Click on the reviewer’s Google profile. Do they have a profile picture? Have they posted multiple reviews or just one? If they’ve only posted one review or have a history of leaving 1-star reviews for other businesses, it’s likely they are either a fake account or someone targeting businesses unfairly.
  
  
• Look for vague or exaggerated accusations: Fake reviews often lack the specific details that accompany real feedback. If the review includes general complaints like “Terrible service!” without explaining what went wrong, this is a sign the review isn't based on an actual experience.
  
  
  
  
• Context matters: Sometimes, reviews are posted on the wrong business page. If the reviewer mentions staff members you don’t employ or products/services you don’t offer, they might have simply clicked the wrong location or business by mistake.

What To Do When You Receive a Fake Review

Once you’ve determined that a review is likely fake, the way you respond is critical. Here’s a step-by-step approach:

1. Respond Quickly But Professionally
   Responding quickly to any review—whether it's real or fake—matters. A fast response helps minimize the impact of false information. However, don’t sacrifice professionalism for speed.
   
   When addressing a fake review, keep your tone calm and neutral. Avoid sounding defensive or angry, as this can make things worse. Take time to investigate the issue thoroughly so your response is well-informed. If you’re confident the review is fake, report it and wait 2-3 days for Google to remove it. If it’s still there after that, reply to share your side of the story.
   
   
2. Address the Misleading Information
   Use your response to correct any misinformation in the review. If you believe the review was mistakenly posted to your page, you can gently suggest, “Was this review meant for a different business?” This opens the door for a correction without being confrontational. If the reviewer is posting misleading or vague information, you can politely clarify your perspective so that future readers understand the truth.
   
   If the review is clearly fake, you can say something like, “We’re unable to locate your name in our customer database, and we don’t recognize the situation you’ve described.” This casts doubt on the validity of the review without directly accusing the reviewer of lying.
   
   
   
   See more about responding to fake reviews here. 
   
   
3. Report the Fake Review
   Google’s policies prohibit fake reviews, but that doesn’t mean every fake review will get removed. Google only acts on reviews that violate their policy, and it can be difficult for them to determine who is or isn’t a legitimate customer.
   
   However, it’s always worth reporting fake reviews to Google. Here’s how:

• • Open Google Maps.
  • Find your business.
  • Click on the review in question.
  • Select the three dots in the upper right corner of the review and click "Flag as inappropriate."

While this process doesn’t guarantee removal, it’s still an important step to take, especially if the review is blatantly false or harmful. See more on How to Report and Remove Google Reviews Here.

Follow FTC Guidelines on Fake Reviews

Not all fake reviews are negative, and it’s not just Google that’s cracking down on them. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has also set guidelines to combat deceptive reviews and endorsements. As a business owner, you should familiarize yourself with these rules to protect your online reputation and avoid potential penalties.

The FTC prohibits businesses from posting fake reviews or incentivizing customers to leave misleading reviews. Violating these guidelines can lead to hefty fines, so make sure you’re only engaging with authentic customer feedback.

Protect Your Google Business Profile from Fake Reviews

The best way to safeguard your GBP from the negative effects of fake reviews is to have a proactive strategy in place. Here are a few tips to consider:

• Regularly monitor reviews: Consistent monitoring of your review content helps you catch fake reviews quickly. Centralized review management tools can help by pulling all your reviews from various platforms (Google, Facebook, Yelp, etc.) into one place, allowing you to stay on top of your online reputation. Learn more about what a centralized review management strategy can do for your business here.
• Encourage positive reviews: One of the best ways to neutralize a fake review is to drown it out with genuine, positive feedback from your real customers. It takes 40 positive reviews to cancel out the effects of just one negative, so you should encourage satisfied customers to leave reviews by using a tool like Widewail’s Invite, which automates review requests and integrates with your point-of-sale system.
• Optimize your Google Business Profile (GBP): Ensure that your GBP is fully optimized with up-to-date business information, high-quality photos, and prompt responses to all reviews (positive or negative). A well-maintained GBP signals to potential customers—and Google—that you’re a trustworthy business.

Why Google is the Most Important Review Platform

Google is the dominant force in the world of online reviews. It’s the first place most consumers turn when researching a business, and reviews left on Google can directly impact your visibility in local search results. In fact, Google reviews account for a significant portion of your local SEO ranking.

If your business has a high volume of positive Google reviews, not only does it boost your credibility, but it also helps you rank higher in search results, making it easier for potential customers to find you. On the other hand, fake negative reviews can hurt your ranking and deter customers.

That’s why it’s crucial to not only handle fake reviews swiftly but to have a system in place to encourage and manage authentic customer feedback.

Fake reviews are inevitable for most businesses, but they don’t have to be the end of the world. By handling fake reviews with professionalism and focusing on generating more positive feedback, you can minimize their impact.

For more information on how we assist our clients in protecting their online reputation, click here.

Originally posted on October 21st, 20,19 and updated on March 26th, 2025.