Fake Google reviews can damage your business’s reputation, mislead potential customers, and affect your star rating and Google search visibility. Whether they’re spammy, misleading, or malicious, it’s essential to know how to remove a fake review on Google and remove them effectively.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to identify fake reviews and take the necessary steps to remove them, ensuring your Google My Business profile accurately reflects your local business’s trustworthy reputation while adhering to Google’s policies.
Why Does Removing Fake Reviews Matter?
Fake reviews can appear on any business’s Google profile, affecting the overall rating and public perception. Whether these false reviews are negative or falsely positive, they can significantly damage your credibility and influence a potential customer’s decision.
Customers often turn to Google reviews before making a purchase, and 88% of consumers trust online customer reviews as much as personal recommendations. Fake reviews disrupt that trust—impacting your credibility, local SEO performance, and ultimately, your sales. The challenge lies in determining which reviews are genuine and which ones are fabricated.
While some fake reviews are malicious, intended by competitors to sabotage your business, others may come from internet trolls or bots. These inauthentic business reviews harm your reputation and can hinder your digital marketing efforts, leading to a drop in your Google rankings.
Thus, knowing how to manage or initiate a Google review removal isn’t just about protecting your reputation—it’s also about safeguarding your visibility and ability to attract new customers.
Types of Fake Reviews on Google
Before you learn how to remove a fake review on Google, it’s essential to understand the different types you might encounter. Here’s a breakdown of the most common offenders:
1. Competitors’ Reviews
Some competitors resort to unethical tactics and post fake negative reviews to tarnish your reputation. While it’s unfortunate, it’s an issue many businesses face. These reviews often exaggerate claims or provide misleading information to hurt your ratings.
2. Troll Reviews
Internet trolls can leave off-topic comments or create fake reviews to stir up trouble. These reviews may be exaggerated or intentionally malicious, and they often have nothing to do with a real customer experience with your business.
3. Spam/Bots Reviews
Automated bots can flood your profile with fake or inappropriate reviews, many of which are spammy and irrelevant. These can be harder to identify, but Google’s content policies address fake engagement and automated posts.
4. Fake Positive Reviews
While negative reviews are more common, even small businesses may fabricate positive reviews to artificially boost their ratings. Google has systems in place to detect these, but sometimes, they may slip through the cracks.
How to Identify Fake Reviews on Google
Spotting fake Google reviews is key before you flag reviews or file a removal request. Here are some key signs that a review may be fake:
- Vague or generic language: Fake reviews often lack specifics. A genuine review will highlight specific services, products, or experiences, while fake ones use broad or generic terms that don’t reflect a real customer’s experience.
- Overly positive or overly negative tone: While genuine reviews can vary in tone, fake reviews tend to be extreme—either too glowing or too harsh.
- Anonymous users or fake-sounding names: Real customers typically have profile photos and consistent activity on Google. Fake reviewers might have generic usernames and lack any profile information.
- Repetitive or identical reviews: If you notice multiple reviews that seem eerily similar or are written in almost identical wording, they may be fake.
Steps to Remove Fake Reviews on Google
Now that you know how to spot fake reviews, here’s the step-by-step process for how to remove a fake review on Google:
1. Flag the Review in Google Maps or Search
- Go to Google Maps or search for your business.
- Find the suspicious review.
- Click the three dots (⋮) next to the review and select “Flag as inappropriate.”
2. Choose the Violation Type
When prompted, select the most appropriate reason:
- Spam
- Conflict of Interest
- Offensive Content
- Fake Engagement
- Legal Violation
This tells Google why the review should be removed.
3. Submit the Report
Click Submit and wait for Google to review. If it violates their review policy, the review will be removed—usually within a few days.
4. Respond Professionally While Waiting
Even if the review is fake, respond professionally to show transparency:
“Thank you for your feedback. We couldn’t locate any record of this interaction and believe this may be a mistake. Please contact us at [your email] so we can help resolve any concerns.”
This builds trust with potential customers reading your reviews.
5. Reach Out to the Reviewer (If Applicable)
If the reviewer’s name matches a real customer and the review appears to be a misunderstanding, contact them and politely request they revise or remove the bad review.
6. Submit a Legal Request (If Needed)
For reviews that involve defamation, hate speech, or legal violations, use the Google Legal Removal Request Form or go to your Google Business Profile dashboard → Engage with Customers → Reviews → Request Review Removal.
How to Manage Your Google Reviews Moving Forward
Learning to remove a fake review on Google is crucial, but ongoing review management is essential for maintaining a solid online reputation. Here are some best practices to ensure that your Google Business Profile stays protected:
- Regularly Monitor Reviews: Stay on top of your reviews, flagging fake ones as soon as they appear. Removing a fake review quickly is easier than letting it fester.
- Respond Promptly: Engaging with both positive and negative Google reviews shows that you value customer feedback and are committed to improving.
- Solicit Genuine Reviews: Encourage satisfied customers to leave legitimate reviews. A consistent flow of positive feedback can help dilute the impact of fake or negative reviews.
Let Build Media Group Help You Safeguard Your Google Profile
At Build Media Group, we understand your online reputation’s critical role in driving business success. Our team of experts specializes in managing and enhancing your Google Business Profile, ensuring it reflects the integrity and quality of your services.
From SEO to website optimization and reputation management, we provide comprehensive solutions designed to protect and promote your online presence across platforms. We know how challenging it can be to navigate fake reviews, and we’re here to support you with a professional, results-driven approach.
Let’s work together to strengthen your brand’s online credibility. Contact us today to start securing your reputation and take your business to the next level.
