How to Report a Fake Google Review

A fake Google review is one that is not based on a real experience with your business. Google's policies prohibit them, but a vague report often goes nowhere. This guide shows how to confirm a review is fake, build a short evidence file, and report it in a way Google can actually assess.

Written by Konrad Weber · Reviewed by Andrew Foster, Review Removal Specialist · Updated 2026-10-11

What Google counts as a fake review

Google's contributed content policy groups fake reviews under fake engagement and rating manipulation. In practice, that covers:

Reviews not based on a real experience at the business.
Reviews posted from multiple accounts controlled by the same person.
Paid reviews, or reviews given in exchange for something.
Reviews posted on a competitor's listing to damage its reputation.
Reviews based on a conflict of interest, such as from current or former employees.
Unusual volumes or patterns of reviews intended to manipulate a rating.

"I don't remember this customer" is not, by itself, proof of a fake. Plenty of genuine customers use nicknames, a partner's account or no name at all. You need several signals pointing in the same direction.

Step 1: Check your records

Search your booking system, POS, invoices, CRM and email for the reviewer's name and any details in the review (date, service, staff member, order). Note what you searched and what you found. A review describing a dinner on a night you were closed, a service you do not offer, or a staff member who has never worked for you is strong evidence.

Step 2: Look at the reviewer's profile

Select the reviewer's name to see their public contributions. Useful signals include an account created recently, a single review, a pattern of one-star reviews across businesses in the same industry, reviews of businesses in many different cities in a short period, or several near-identical reviews from different accounts. Our guide to identifying fake competitor reviews goes through these signals in more depth.

Step 3: Capture the evidence

Take dated screenshots of the review, the reviewer's profile and any related reviews. Copy the review's direct link (in Google Maps, open the review's menu and use the share option). Reviews can be edited or deleted, and if Google asks a follow-up question, you want the original. For a fuller checklist, see evidence for review complaints.

Step 4: Report the review

If you manage the Business Profile, the Reviews Management Tool is usually the best route because it shows the status and allows an appeal:

Open the Reviews Management Tool and confirm the correct Google account.
Select your business, then Continue.
Choose Report a new review for removal and Continue.
Find the review and select Report.
In the new tab, select the reason that best describes the breach and Submit.

You can also report from your Business Profile (Read reviews, then the Report icon next to the review), and anyone can report a review in Google Maps through the three-dot menu and Report review.

Choosing the reason

Pick the reason that matches your evidence. If you know the reviewer is a former staff member, it is a conflict of interest. If the account appears to be one of several created by the same person, it is fake engagement or spam. If it is a rant about a news story, it is off-topic. The reason guides which policy the review is checked against.

Step 5: Track and, if needed, appeal

Google says evaluating a reported review typically takes several days. In the Reviews Management Tool, check the status: Decision pending means it has not been assessed yet; Report reviewed - no policy violation means Google did not remove it. At that point you can submit a one-time appeal. This is where your evidence file earns its keep. Explain in short, factual sentences why the review is not based on a real experience, for example: "No booking, payment or contact record exists for this name. The review describes a weekday lunch service; we only open for dinner."

Step 6: Reply publicly while you wait

A short, neutral reply protects you with readers in the meantime. State facts without accusing anyone: "We can't find any record of this visit. If we've got this wrong, please contact us directly so we can look into it." Avoid calling the reviewer a liar or a competitor in public, even if you suspect it.

When it is more than a policy breach

Fake reviews can also raise legal issues. Under the Australian Consumer Law, fake testimonials and misleading reviews can amount to misleading or deceptive conduct (s 18) or false or misleading representations (s 29), and a false review that damages someone's reputation can be defamatory. These do not give you a quick removal mechanism on their own, but they can support a legal removal request to Google. Our overview of fake Google reviews under Australian law explains how these laws apply. This is general information, not legal advice.

If the fake reviews arrived with a demand for payment to remove them, that is extortion. Google has a dedicated report form for review extortion scams. Do not pay or negotiate. See our guide on Google review extortion.

Getting a second opinion

G-DEFENCE prepares fake-review complaints for Australian businesses through Google's official channels, with no upfront fee and payment only after a successful removal. See removing fake Google reviews for how we approach these cases. Google makes the final decision.

If you have a review you believe is fake, request a free assessment and we will look at the evidence with you.

Sources

Frequently asked questions

Should I report a fake review from several accounts to get Google's attention?

No. Coordinated mass reporting is not how Google's process is meant to work, and it adds nothing to a well-reasoned report. One accurate report followed by a well-evidenced appeal is the better approach.

Can I ask Google who wrote a fake review?

Google does not disclose reviewer identity through its reporting tools. In Australia, identifying an anonymous poster generally requires a court process, which is a significant step that needs legal advice.

What if the fake review is positive and on a competitor's listing?

You can report it in Google Maps like any other review. Suspected fake positive reviews can also be raised with the ACCC as a consumer law issue.

Does a fake review with no text still count?

Yes. Rating-only reviews are covered by the same policies. Because there is no wording to point to, profile patterns and your records become the main evidence.