FAKE REVIEWS

Review Bombing: What to Do When Your Business Gets a Flood of Bad Reviews

A sudden wave of one-star reviews, often after a viral post or news story, can drag a rating down overnight. Google has tools for this.

Don’t panic-reply

Responding to dozens of angry reviews at once rarely helps. Focus first on documenting and reporting.

Document the spike

Record when the reviews started, how many arrived, and what triggered them. Reviews from people who never visited are fake engagement; reviews about news or politics are off-topic.

Report in bulk, but accurately

Report each review under the category that fits. Accurate reports get acted on faster than blanket reports.

Contact Google support

For a clear attack, reaching out through Business Profile support with a summary of the spike can help. Google sometimes limits new reviews on profiles under attack.