Reporting Fake Google Reviews in 2025

A lot has changed since the world’s biggest search engine first introduced its review functionality several years ago, and as the service has grown, so has the necessity of reporting fake Google reviews.

Today, online reviews are more important than ever. A recent Trustpilot study found that up to 90 percent of people now read reviews before making a buying decision.

Many dedicated review platforms now exist, including Trustpilot, Google, and the BBB (better known as the Better Business Bureau). Most importantly, all of your online reviews can heavily impact your reputation score.

However, by far the biggest and most widely accessed review website isn’t actually a review website at all — it’s Google Search itself.

In our guide to dealing with fake reviews, you’ll learn how to report fake reviews and remove suspicious reviews once and for all.

We can help you spot fake Google reviews, remove them, and create a positive online reputation. Call us at 941-259-4554 for more information.

Google Reviews Dominate the Consumer Review Industry

Countless Google reviews now pop up front and center when searching for brands and businesses of all sizes online. Google also collates reviews from elsewhere around the web and shows these at the same time.

BrightLocal found that Google is the most-used website for reviews, followed by Facebook, Yelp and Tripadvisor. Plus, the “sort by newest” feature on Google reviews is the most useful according to 47% of consumers.

As such, for many businesses, a glowing star rating on Google is crucial. It’s quite often the first thing that a potential customer sees when searching for a company or brand.

Unfortunately, this has led to a massive increase in fake reviews. Phony, bogus, false, fake – call them what you like, but the fact is that there’s more shady behavior on Google than ever when it comes to reviews.

However, there’s some good news: Reporting fake Google reviews couldn’t be easier. Anyone can report what they believe to be a fake review by simply flagging it as inappropriate.

That said, successfully removing fake reviews from Google sites and apps is another story altogether.

How To Handle Fake Reviews on Google (and More Review Tips)

Here, we’ll explain exactly how to go about reporting fraudulent reviews, and we’ll also clarify the following:

• Why fake reviews exist
• What counts as a fake Google review
• Why review fraud is a problem
• Where negative Google reviews come from
• What to do if a review removal request is denied
• How to reply to these Google reviews

We’ll also touch on the impact of fake Google reviews and how they affect your business and online reputation. This information may not make you an expert on fake Google reviews, but it will inform your approach for reporting and removing fake reviews on Google.

Our clients come to us when they need to combat fake reviews online. Call us at 941-259-4554 to learn more.

Reporting Fake Google Reviews

Google reviews are most prominent on search engine results pages (SERPs) and Google Maps. Thankfully, the process for reporting fake reviews is incredibly straightforward:

When you find a fake review, click the Three Dots icon to the right of it.

Then, click Report Review on the small menu that pops up.

Next, select your reason for reporting the review. In the case of fake reviews, the best option is Spam. The description says, “Review is from a bot, a fake account, or contains ads and promotions.”

Click Submit to send the report to Google.

Google will only use your email address to reach out for additional details if needed. Furthermore, Google won’t share your contact information with the reviewer or the business to which the review relates.

In many cases, Google will address flagged reviews within one week. If, after seven days, a previously flagged review remains visible, business owners may need to contact Google directly for help.

Business owners can flag inappropriate or fake reviews for any company they own or manage on the Google Business Profile (GBP) platform.

Why Do Fake Google Reviews Exist?

Generally, fake Google reviews come from disgruntled customers and unscrupulous competitors.

The latter is becoming increasingly prevalent. Unscrupulous competitors may often attempt to discredit your business with bad reviews or fake reviews on Google.

They may also do this to multiple competitors. In an attempt to bolster their own rating, it’s also possible that they’ll post fake positive reviews for their own business.

What Counts as a Fake Google Review?

A fake review is any review that doesn’t reflect actual events. People post fake reviews to discredit a business or influence Google’s star ratings.

Either way, the means of reporting such reviews to Google are the same. Simply flag them as inappropriate and mark them as spam.

Why Are Fake Google Reviews a Problem?

Fake Google reviews are an issue for many of the same reasons that any kind of phony review is problematic:

• Fake Google reviews are liable to confuse or misinform clients, customers, and other individuals.
• They’re used to discredit businesses that do not deserve to be discredited.
• Fake Google reviews are used to influence how the search engine giant displays business listings.

If your Google Business profile is compromised by negative reviews, your business’s reputation is at risk.

Ultimately, a higher GBP rating means a better ranking on Google. Similarly, a poor rating can cause a business to fall by the wayside. This is particularly troublesome when competitors attack businesses with fake one-star reviews to push them down the rankings.

Where Do Fake Google Reviews Come From?

Fake Google reviews most commonly stem from disgruntled customers and competing businesses. They may also come from angry former employees, as well as friends and family members of the business or a competing business.

Anyone seeking revenge can attempt to post a fake review to paint you or your business in a negative light.

Sometimes, inexplicable one-star reviews may appear without any rhyme or reason whatsoever. This may be a case of mistaken identity, where an individual actually reviewed the wrong business. While these aren’t technically fake, you may still flag them as inappropriate and report them to Google.

What To Do if a Removal Request Is Denied

Google denies numerous removal requests every day.

For example, if a customer leaves a genuine one-star review after a poor experience, there’s no reason for Google to remove it. Since it’s a reflection of the truth, it’s in Google’s best interest to leave it up.

Since there are legitimate negative and positive Google reviews, the search engine must decide if a review that’s flagged is real or fake and act accordingly.

Google uses an array of techniques to determine the validity of reviews. Still, a legitimate removal request will occasionally be denied in error. In this instance, you can report the same review again so that Google will reconsider removing it.

Replying to Fake Google Reviews

Where a removal request is denied, your next best option is to respond to the fabricated feedback.

Remember, these aren’t simply negative reviews; these are reviews that contain fabricated or misleading information — and may have been written by someone who has never been a customer.

This can help highlight fake reviews to other customers. Unfortunately, it does nothing to mitigate the impact of a low-star rating on the overall score.

If you reply to a fake review, be polite and matter-of-fact, and don’t let emotion take over. An angry or aggressive response may only serve to paint your business in a poor light.

Are you concerned about the impact of fake Google reviews on your reputation or the reputation of your business? Internet Reputation can help. Contact our team of experts at 941-259-4554 to learn more.