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Reputation Guards Fake reviews are a severe threat to businesses, reportedly costing
industry-wide revenues around $152 billion annually in lost revenues. While
many users sincerely wish to share their experiences online, malicious attackers
are using fake reviews as a weapon against businesses and deceiving potential
customers. Luckily, there are steps companies can take to recognize an attack
and take appropriate action against it.
Check the reviewer's profile first - do they have a history of leaving
positive or negative reviews elsewhere online? If that is the case, this may
indicate their review is fake. Furthermore, pay attention to the language used
within reviews, as counterfeit reviews often use exaggerated positive or negative
language that stands out more than genuine feedback - phrases like "the
best," "amazing," or "worst experience ever" could
indicate fraudulence.
If you suspect a review may be fake, click on its reviewer's name to
access their history of other feedback. If they have reviewed multiple
businesses with nearly identical reviews, this could be a telltale sign that
this review might be falsified. Furthermore, check if the IP address posting
these reviews has a reputation for fraudster activity.
One telltale sign that a review is fake is its presence of typos or
grammatical errors, which help make the review appear more authentic. It would
be best to keep watch for reviews referencing events that do not occur (e.g., a
customer complaining of rude service on Sunday when no one works then).
If you encounter a suspicious review, follow Google's instructions for
reporting it. While there is no guarantee that Google will remove the review
entirely, it might work! Alternatively, contact the reviewer directly through
their platform and ask them to delete their review.
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