How to Remove or Flag Fake Google Reviews (Step-by-Step)

Why Fake Reviews Are a Serious Problem

Fake reviews are one of the most frustrating challenges a business owner can face. Whether they come from competitors, disgruntled former employees, or random bad actors, fake reviews can damage your reputation, lower your star rating, and drive away potential customers who trust what they read online.

According to research, approximately 10-15% of online reviews are estimated to be fake. For small businesses, even a single fraudulent one-star review can have a measurable impact on revenue, especially if the business has a small total review count.

The impact goes beyond just the star rating. Fake reviews create a distorted picture of your business. Potential customers reading a fabricated complaint may decide to go elsewhere without ever giving you a chance.

The good news is that Google has policies against fake reviews, and there are steps you can take to get them removed. This guide walks you through the entire process, from identifying fake reviews to flagging them, escalating when needed, and exploring legal options as a last resort.

How to Identify Fake Reviews

Before you can flag a review, you need to confirm it is actually fake. Not every negative review is illegitimate, and flagging real reviews as fake can waste your time and credibility with Google. Here are the telltale signs:

The Reviewer Was Never a Customer

This is the clearest indicator. If you have no record of the reviewer in your customer database, appointment system, or transaction records, the review may be fake. Cross-reference the reviewer name with your records. Check your POS system, booking software, and email correspondence.

The Review Is Vague or Generic

Fake reviews often lack specific details about the experience. They use general complaints like "terrible service" or "worst place ever" without mentioning what happened, who they interacted with, or what product or service they purchased. Real customers tend to include specifics.

The Reviewer Profile Is Suspicious

Click on the reviewer name and examine their profile:

• Brand new account with only one or two reviews, especially if both are negative
• Reviews for businesses in completely different geographic areas (a reviewer in Miami leaving reviews for businesses in Portland and Dallas may be fake)
• Multiple reviews posted on the same day for different businesses, especially if they are all negative
• Generic profile name or what appears to be a randomly generated name

The Timing Is Suspicious

Look for patterns:

• A cluster of negative reviews appearing within a short time frame (hours or days) may indicate a coordinated attack
• A negative review appearing shortly after a competitor opens nearby
• A negative review appearing right after you fired or disciplined an employee

The Language Is Inflammatory or Off-Topic

Fake reviews sometimes include inflammatory language, personal attacks, or complaints about things that have nothing to do with your business. Google's policies prohibit hate speech, harassment, and off-topic content, which gives you additional grounds for removal.

Cross-Platform Patterns

If the same suspicious review text appears on multiple platforms (Google, Yelp, Facebook) from what appear to be different accounts, it is almost certainly a coordinated fake attack.

Google Review Policies You Should Know

Google has specific content policies that govern what reviews are allowed. Understanding these policies helps you flag reviews effectively, because your flag is more likely to succeed when you can point to a specific policy violation.

Reviews That Violate Google Policies

Google will consider removing reviews that contain:

• Spam and fake content: Reviews from people who are not real customers, reviews posted to manipulate ratings, or duplicate reviews
• Off-topic content: Reviews that do not relate to the actual experience at the business
• Restricted content: Reviews that promote illegal activities or regulated goods
• Sexually explicit content: Any graphic sexual content
• Offensive content: Hate speech, harassment, or discriminatory language
• Dangerous or derogatory content: Threats, bullying, or content that demeans individuals or groups
• Impersonation: Reviews posted under a false identity or pretending to be someone else
• Conflict of interest: Reviews from current or former employees, competitors, or people with a financial relationship to the business

Reviews Google Will NOT Remove

Google generally will not remove:

• Negative reviews from real customers, even if you disagree with the characterization
• Reviews with factual inaccuracies that do not rise to the level of defamation
• Reviews that you find unfair but do not violate any specific policy
• Low star ratings without text (a one-star rating with no written content does not violate policy on its own)

Understanding this distinction is important. Your time is better spent responding thoughtfully to legitimate negative reviews than trying to get them removed. For guidance on that, see our guide on [how to respond to negative reviews](/blog/how-to-respond-to-negative-reviews).

Step-by-Step: How to Flag a Review for Removal

Step 1: Go to Your Google Business Profile

Log into your Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business). Navigate to the Reviews section where you can see all reviews for your listing.

Step 2: Find the Review and Click the Three-Dot Menu

Locate the fake review. On the right side of the review, click the three-dot menu icon (the vertical ellipsis).

Step 3: Select "Report Review"

Click "Report review" from the dropdown menu. This opens Google review reporting flow.

Step 4: Choose the Violation Category

Google will ask you to select the reason for your report. Choose the category that best matches the violation:

• Spam or fake content
• Off-topic
• Offensive or sexually explicit
• Conflict of interest
• Bullying or harassment
• Other (with a text field to explain)

Select the most accurate option. If the review is fake, select "spam or fake content."

Step 5: Submit and Wait

After submitting your flag, Google will review the report. This process typically takes 5 to 20 business days. Google does not always notify you of the outcome, so check back periodically to see if the review has been removed.

Step 6: Document Everything

Before and after flagging, take screenshots of:

• The review itself (including the date, reviewer name, and full text)
• The reviewer profile (showing their other reviews)
• Any evidence that the reviewer was not a customer (your transaction records, appointment logs, etc.)

This documentation will be essential if you need to escalate.

What to Do If Google Does Not Remove the Review

Google does not remove every flagged review, even when it appears to violate their policies. If your initial flag is unsuccessful, you have several escalation options.

Option 1: Request a Re-Review Through Google Business Profile Support

Contact Google Business Profile support directly:

1. Go to the Google Business Profile Help Center
2. Click "Contact us" at the bottom of the page
3. Choose "Reviews and photos" as your issue category
4. Select "Manage reviews" and then "Remove or report reviews"
5. Choose your preferred contact method (chat, email, or phone)

When speaking with support, be specific. Reference the exact review, explain why it violates Google's policies, and provide your documentation. Have your screenshots and evidence ready.

Option 2: Post in the Google Business Profile Community Forum

The Google Business Profile community forum is monitored by Google Product Experts and occasionally by Google employees. Creating a detailed post about your situation can sometimes result in a higher-level review of the flagged content.

Include:

• Your business name and location
• A description of the fake review
• The specific policy violation
• What evidence you have that the review is fake
• That you have already flagged the review and the flag was not acted upon

Option 3: Use the Google Reviews Management Tool

Google has a dedicated tool for managing reviews that provides a status tracker for flagged reviews. Access it through your Google Business Profile dashboard under "Support" and then "Review management." This tool lets you see whether your flag is still under review, was actioned, or was denied.

Option 4: File a Legal Removal Request

If the review constitutes defamation or contains information that violates the law, you can submit a legal removal request to Google. This is done through Google legal support portal. You will need to provide legal documentation supporting your claim.

This option should be reserved for clear-cut cases, such as reviews that contain demonstrably false statements of fact that damage your business.

Responding to Fake Reviews While You Wait

While waiting for Google to act on your flag, the fake review is visible to potential customers. Responding publicly is an important step in damage control.

How to Respond to a Review You Believe Is Fake

> Thank you for your feedback. We have searched our records and unfortunately cannot find any record of your visit. We take all reviews seriously, and we would love the opportunity to look into this further. Please contact us directly at [phone/email] so we can understand your experience. We have also reported this review to Google for investigation.

This response accomplishes several things:

• It shows future customers that you are responsive and professional
• It signals that the review may not be legitimate, without being accusatory
• It invites the reviewer to contact you, which a fake reviewer will never do
• It mentions that the review has been flagged, which may deter future fake reviewers

What NOT to Say

• Do not call the reviewer a liar or use accusatory language
• Do not threaten legal action in a public response
• Do not get emotional or defensive
• Do not share private customer information to prove a point

Your response is not really for the fake reviewer. It is for every future customer who reads the exchange.

Legal Options for Fake Review Removal

In some cases, fake reviews may constitute defamation, which opens the door to legal remedies.

When Legal Action May Be Appropriate

• The review contains demonstrably false statements of fact (not just opinions)
• You have strong evidence of who posted the review (competitor, former employee)
• The review is causing measurable financial harm to your business
• Other removal methods have been exhausted

Types of Legal Action

Cease and Desist Letter: A lawyer sends a formal letter to the reviewer demanding the review be removed. This is often enough to get fake reviews taken down, especially when the reviewer is identifiable.

Defamation Lawsuit: Filing a lawsuit for defamation. This is the most aggressive option and should only be pursued when the financial harm is significant and you have strong evidence. Lawsuits are expensive and time-consuming.

Court Order for Removal: In some jurisdictions, you can obtain a court order directing Google to remove a defamatory review. Google generally complies with valid court orders.

The Cost-Benefit Reality

Legal action is expensive. A cease and desist letter might cost $500-1,500. A defamation lawsuit can run $10,000 or more. Before pursuing legal options, consider whether the financial harm from the fake review justifies the legal costs.

For most small businesses, the better approach is to bury the fake review with a steady stream of genuine positive reviews. This is where a consistent review collection strategy pays off.

Preventing Fake Reviews

While you cannot completely prevent fake reviews, there are steps you can take to minimize the risk and mitigate the impact.

Build a Strong Base of Genuine Reviews

The best defense against fake reviews is a large volume of real ones. A single fake one-star review has a much smaller impact when you have 200 genuine reviews averaging 4.7 stars. Consistent review collection through tools like [Opineko](https://opineko.com) ensures that any fake review is quickly buried under authentic feedback.

Monitor Your Reviews Regularly

Set up alerts so you know immediately when a new review is posted. The faster you identify and flag a fake review, the sooner it can be removed. Opineko provides real-time notifications for new reviews across all platforms.

Secure Your Online Listings

Make sure your Google Business Profile is verified and fully claimed. An unclaimed listing is more vulnerable to manipulation.

Watch for Patterns

If you notice a sudden spike in negative reviews, investigate immediately. Check if a new competitor has opened, if a former employee was recently terminated, or if there is any other event that might motivate a review attack.

Train Staff on Review Awareness

Your front-line staff can be your early warning system. If a team member notices a review that mentions details that did not happen or references a service you do not offer, flag it immediately.

Documenting Evidence for Fake Reviews

Thorough documentation strengthens your case whether you are flagging to Google or pursuing legal action.

What to Document

1. Screenshot the review including the date posted, reviewer name, and full text
2. Screenshot the reviewer profile showing their other reviews, account age, and any identifying information
3. Search your records for the reviewer name and document the absence of any matching customer
4. Note any patterns such as timing correlations with employee terminations, competitor activity, or other events
5. Save all communications with Google support regarding the review
6. Record the business impact including any measurable changes in call volume, bookings, or revenue that coincided with the fake review

Organizing Your Evidence

Create a simple folder for each disputed review containing:

• Screenshots (timestamped)
• Search results from your CRM or POS showing no matching customer
• A written summary of why you believe the review is fake
• A timeline of events (when the review appeared, when you flagged it, Google responses)

This organized evidence package makes every escalation step faster and more effective.

Building a Review Management System That Minimizes Fake Review Impact

The long-term solution to fake reviews is not just removing them. It is building a review management system so robust that fake reviews become statistically insignificant.

Consistent Review Collection

Businesses that collect reviews consistently can absorb the occasional fake review without a meaningful impact on their overall rating. If you are getting 20+ genuine reviews per month, one fake review barely moves the needle.

Use [QR codes](/blog/how-to-get-more-google-reviews), [email follow-ups](/blog/review-request-templates), and staff training to maintain a steady flow of authentic reviews.

Active Response Management

Respond to every review, positive and negative. This creates a pattern of engagement that makes your business look responsive and trustworthy. When potential customers see that you respond thoughtfully to both praise and criticism, a single suspicious negative review carries less weight.

Multi-Platform Presence

Do not put all your review eggs in the Google basket. Build your reputation on [multiple platforms](/blog/best-review-platforms-small-business), including Yelp, Facebook, TripAdvisor, and industry-specific sites. A strong multi-platform presence ensures that no single fake review on any single platform can define your reputation.

Local SEO Foundation

A strong [local SEO strategy](/blog/reviews-local-seo-impact) ensures your business appears prominently in search results with accurate information. When potential customers see a well-maintained Google Business Profile with hundreds of reviews, a single fake negative review loses its power.

Key Takeaways

• Identify fake reviews by checking for vague language, suspicious reviewer profiles, no matching customer records, unusual timing patterns, and inflammatory or off-topic content.
• Flag fake reviews through your Google Business Profile using the three-dot menu on the review. Select the most accurate policy violation category.
• If the flag is not successful within three weeks, escalate through Google Business Profile support, the community forum, or the reviews management tool.
• Respond publicly to fake reviews while you wait for removal. Be professional, factual, and calm. Your response is for future customers, not the fake reviewer.
• Legal options exist but are expensive. Reserve them for cases with demonstrable financial harm and strong evidence.
• The best long-term strategy is consistent collection of genuine reviews through a tool like [Opineko](https://opineko.com) at $29/month. A high volume of authentic reviews makes fake ones statistically irrelevant.