How to remove fake Google reviews

What Google will and will not remove

Google only removes reviews that break its policies, not reviews that are simply negative or unfair. Policy violations include spam or fake engagement, content from someone with a conflict of interest such as a competitor or former employee, off-topic rants, harassment, hate speech, and posts that share personal information.

A real customer's harsh but honest review does not qualify, however unfair it feels. For those, your best move is a good public reply - see how to respond to negative reviews and the review response examples.

How to spot a fake review

• The reviewer has no profile, or a burst of reviews for unrelated businesses far apart.
• Generic wording with no specifics of an actual visit or purchase.
• A cluster of one-star reviews in a short window, which can signal an attack.
• Mentions of a competitor, or of things you do not sell or offer.

RapportIQ flags suspicious reviews for you so a coordinated run is easier to catch early - see how it works.

How to report a review to Google

• Find the review in your Google Business Profile or on Google Maps.
• Open the three-dot menu on the review and choose Report review.
• Select the policy it violates, and be specific about which one.
• Submit. It can take several days, and Google may ask for more detail.

If the first report goes nowhere

• Report it again, citing the exact policy and adding evidence.
• Use Google Business Profile support or the review removal tool to follow up.
• For a coordinated attack, gather screenshots and dates before you escalate.
• Legal routes are a last resort, and only for genuine defamation.

Protect your rating while you wait

Removal is slow and not guaranteed, so do not wait idly. Keep replying calmly to show future customers a level head, and keep asking happy customers for reviews so a wave of genuine feedback outweighs the bad.

Keep reading

How to respond to negative reviews, Which reviews need your attention, See how RapportIQ helps