FAKE REVIEWS

How to Report a Fake Google Review (and Actually Get It Taken Down)

Fake reviews are the easiest kind to remove and the most common kind on restaurant and hotel profiles. The key is showing Google the reviewer was never a customer.

Signs a review is fake

• The reviewer has no other reviews, or dozens posted on the same day.
• The review is vague and names nothing specific: no dish, room, staff member, or date.
• Details that contradict reality, like a menu item you have never served.
• Several similar reviews arriving in a short burst.

Check your records

Search your reservation system, POS, and booking platform for the reviewer's name and the date they mention. No record is strong evidence that the review is fake engagement.

Report it under fake engagement

When you flag the review, choose the category for spam or fake content. If you escalate or appeal, state plainly that there is no record of this person as a customer and list what you checked.

Watch for patterns

If fake reviews keep arriving, note the dates and reviewer profiles. A pattern is much more persuasive to Google than one isolated review.