Fake reviews, whether negative reviews posted by competitors or fake positive reviews that inflate ratings, are a violation of Google’s policies. Google has systems to detect and remove inauthentic reviews, but the process requires the business to flag them.
To report a fake review, go to your Business Profile, find the review, click the three dots next to it, and select “Report review.” Choose “Conflicts of interest” if you believe the review was posted by a competitor, or “Not a customer” if you have evidence the reviewer never interacted with your business.
Document the pattern before reporting. Screenshot the review with timestamp, note any suspicious reviewer profile characteristics (new account, no other reviews, multiple similar reviews posted around the same time), and keep records of your customer database to demonstrate there is no matching customer record.
After reporting, you can also respond to the review professionally, noting that you have no record of this customer interaction and that you have flagged the review for Google’s attention. Keep the response factual and calm. An aggressive or accusatory response looks worse than the fake review itself.
Google’s review of reports can take one to two weeks. If a review that clearly violates policy is not removed after reporting, you can escalate through the Business Profile Help community or through Google’s support channels.
See how Locus Intelligence manages this across your dealer network in 30 days.