Fake reviews suck. You wake up, check your Google listing, and suddenly your 4.8 stars is down to 4.2 because a bunch of one-line “terrible service” posts appeared overnight. Some are obvious bots with random names and no photos. Others look almost real — short but written in full sentences. Either way, they’re killing your local rankings, scaring off customers, and making you look bad.
I’ve dealt with this for clients a lot. Clinics, restaurants, real estate agents, small shops — it hits everyone. The good news is you can clean it up and stop most of it from happening again. Here’s what actually works — the steps we take when it’s happening to someone we work with.
First — figure out which ones are fake
Don’t waste time replying to everything. Look for the easy ones to spot and report.
Things that scream fake:
- The reviewer has only one review on Google (yours) and no photo or real profile
- Review is super short — “bad job” or “great service” with nothing specific
- Several similar reviews posted within a few hours of each other
- Name looks made up — John123, Sarah Xyz, or just random letters
- Review doesn’t mention anything real about your business (wrong location, wrong service)
- Language feels weird — broken English, repeated words, or way too formal
On Google, go to your Business Profile → Reviews → sort by newest. Look for sudden groups. On Facebook, check the page reviews tab and sort by date. Once you’ve spotted the obvious spam, report them.
Report them — but do it smart
Google and Facebook have report buttons, but you have to use them right or they get ignored.
For Google:
- Open the review → three dots → Flag as inappropriate
- Pick “Spam” for clear bots
- Pick “Conflict of interest” if you think a competitor is behind it (add a short note like “multiple fake reviews from similar accounts”)
- Clear spam usually goes away in 1–3 days. Sneakier ones take longer or need a second report.
For Facebook:
- Three dots on the review → Find support or report review
- Choose “Spam” or “Fake review”
- Facebook is pickier — you often need proof (screenshots of similar reviews, no real customer interaction)
Tip: Report 5–10 at a time. Don’t hammer the button — it can flag your account.
Reply to the ones that won’t go away
Some fakes stay even after reporting. You still need to reply publicly — it shows future customers you’re active and care.
Keep replies short, calm, professional:
- Thank them (even if it’s fake)
- Offer to fix it offline
- Ask for more details if it’s vague
- Example: “Thanks for the feedback. Sorry your experience wasn’t great — please email us at [your email] so we can look into it and make it right.”
A good reply turns a 1-star fake into something that looks neutral instead of a red flag.
Get real reviews to bury the spam
The fastest way to make fake reviews irrelevant is to get more real ones. When you have 50+ genuine 4–5 star reviews, a few fakes get lost.
How to ask (legally and naturally):
- After a good job, send a short text or email with a direct link to your Google review page
- Put a QR code on receipts or thank-you cards
- Train staff to ask at the end of appointments (“We’d love your feedback if you have a minute”)
- Reply to every positive review — people see you care and are more likely to leave one
We’ve seen clients go from 3.8 stars to 4.6 in a couple of months just by asking every happy customer.
Stop it from happening again
Once you clean it up, make it harder for the next wave.
- Claim and verify all your listings (Google, Facebook, Yelp, etc.)
- Set up review alerts so you get notified right away
- Ask for feedback privately first (email or text), then encourage public reviews only if positive
- Add CAPTCHA or email verification on contact forms to cut bot submissions
- Keep your Name, Address, Phone consistent everywhere — spam targets messy listings
If the same person or group keeps posting fakes, screenshot everything (dates, usernames, patterns) and report it to Google as repeated abuse.
Quick Checklist to Stop Review Spam Fast
- Flag obvious fakes on Google/Facebook today
- Reply professionally to anything you can’t remove
- Ask every happy customer for a real review
- Set up review alerts so you catch new spam early
- Keep listings verified and NAP consistent
Review spam is unfair and stressful, but it’s fixable. Most businesses wait too long and lose customers before they act. If you’re dealing with this right now and want help cleaning it up or preventing it long-term, we handle online reputation management and repair every day. Reach out on our contact page or LinkedIn — we reply the same day and can take a quick look at your profile for fre
About the Author:
This blog is written by Holinex Digital, a leading full-service digital and creative marketing agency specializing in result-driven, data-driven strategies for online growth. With expertise in digital marketing, Holinex helps businesses achieve measurable success through practical and innovative digital marketing solutions. Holinex always believes in making a meaningful community that is open-minded to help each other to grow up together. so, please follow & Keep in touch with Holinex Digital.
Please see our Reviews on Google or TechBehmoth to know what the client says about holinex Digital
