For years, local businesses have focused on earning more Google reviews—not getting reviews removed.
Unfortunately, that's changing.
A growing scam known as review extortion is targeting businesses across Google Maps. Scammers post fraudulent one-star reviews, then demand payment to remove them or threaten to leave additional negative reviews unless the business pays up.
The good news? Google has recognized the problem and introduced a dedicated Review Extortion Report Form to help businesses report these attacks. Even better, our team has seen this process work. In several cases, businesses that submitted the review extortion form along with supporting evidence had fraudulent reviews removed in as little as one to two days.
Here's what every business owner should know.
What Is Review Extortion?
Review extortion happens when someone uses fake Google reviews as leverage to demand money, free products, services, or some other benefit.
Unlike a legitimate unhappy customer, these scammers often have never interacted with your business at all. Their goal isn't to share an honest experience; it's to pressure you into paying them.
The scam usually follows a predictable pattern:
- One or more suspicious one-star reviews suddenly appear.
- Shortly afterward, you receive an email, text message, WhatsApp message, Telegram message, or social media direct message, or the user has contact information listed in their profile
- The sender claims they can remove the reviews—for a fee—or threatens to post additional negative reviews if you don't comply.
Some scammers even claim they can have your Google Business Profile suspended or remove your legitimate positive reviews. These claims are simply designed to create urgency and pressure you into paying.
Tell-Tale Signs of Review Extortion
While scammers constantly evolve their tactics, many review extortion attempts share several common warning signs. Seeing one of these signs doesn't automatically mean you're being targeted, but seeing several together should raise immediate suspicion.
1. The Reviewer Isn't a Customer
You don't recognize the person's name, and you can't find any record of them in your scheduling software, CRM, invoices, or customer history.
2. Multiple One-Star Reviews Appear at Once
Instead of receiving one occasional negative review, several one-star reviews may appear within hours or days of each other. This coordinated activity is often a sign that the reviews are part of an organized attack rather than genuine customer feedback.
3. The Reviews Contain Little or No Detail
Many fraudulent reviews simply leave a one-star rating with no explanation. Others include vague complaints that could apply to almost any business without mentioning a specific employee, service, or experience.
4. The Reviewer's Google Profile Contains Contact Information
Many scammers use a Google profile that includes contact information in the profile image or account details. The profile photo may display a phone number, WhatsApp number, Telegram username, or other contact information, making it easy for businesses to reach out after receiving the review.
The goal is simple: they want you to contact them so they can demand payment in exchange for removing the review or stopping additional fake reviews.
A legitimate customer almost never uses their Google profile to advertise a messaging app or invite businesses to contact them after leaving a review.
5. You're Contacted Shortly After the Reviews Appear
If the profile doesn't contain contact information, the scammer will often reach out to the business shortly after the reviews are posted.
The sender may claim they know who posted the reviews, offer to "fix" your online reputation, or directly demand payment in exchange for removing them.
6. They Threaten Additional Reviews
If someone says they'll continue posting negative reviews unless you pay them, that's extortion, not customer feedback.
Don't Pay the Scammers
If your business becomes the target of review extortion, resist the temptation to make the problem disappear by paying.
There's no guarantee the reviews will be removed. In many cases, paying simply tells the scammer that you're willing to negotiate, making you an even more attractive target for future attacks.
Instead:
- Take screenshots of every suspicious review.
- Save and screenshot any emails, text messages, or direct messages you receive.
- Record usernames, phone numbers, email addresses, and timestamps.
- Gather links to the suspicious Google profiles if possible.
- Report the incident to Google.
The more evidence you can provide, the easier it is for Google to investigate.
Google's Review Extortion Report Form
Recognizing the increase in review extortion, Google now provides a dedicated Extortion Report Form specifically for businesses experiencing these scams.
Unlike the standard "Report Review" option inside your Google Business Profile, this form allows you to explain the situation in detail and upload supporting evidence showing that someone is attempting to extort your business. If you've received threats or demands for payment in exchange for removing reviews, this is the reporting process Google recommends using.
In our experience managing Google Business Profiles, this dedicated form has been significantly more effective than simply flagging reviews individually. We've seen fraudulent reviews removed in as little as one to two days after submitting the report with screenshots and supporting documentation.
While every case is different and Google doesn't guarantee a response time, businesses experiencing review extortion should absolutely use this process rather than relying solely on the standard review reporting option.
Don't Respond While Google Is Investigating
If you've submitted a Review Extortion Report, resist the urge to publicly respond to the review while Google investigates.
Although it's natural to want to defend your business, responding can sometimes complicate the situation by creating unnecessary engagement with the reviewer. Since extortion reviews violate Google's policies, your goal is to have the review removed—not to begin a public conversation with the scammer.
Instead, document everything, submit your evidence, and allow Google time to complete its investigation. Once the review has been removed or Google has made a determination, you can decide whether any further action is necessary.
How to Protect Your Business
No business can completely prevent review extortion, but there are steps you can take to reduce its impact.
Continue Earning Legitimate Reviews
A strong history of authentic customer reviews makes fraudulent reviews stand out more clearly and helps maintain customer trust if your business is targeted. The fewer reviews you have, the more a one-star review will hurt your rating.
Monitor Your Google Business Profile Regularly
The sooner you notice suspicious activity, the sooner you can begin documenting evidence and reporting it. You ought to be checking your Google Business Profile regularly and responding to reviews, watching for changes, and generally keeping it updated for good SEO anyway.
If someone else manages your profile, make sure they're actively watching for suspicious reviews and responding quickly when issues arise.
Your Online Reputation Is Worth Protecting
For many local businesses, your Google Business Profile is your digital storefront. It's often the first thing potential customers see before deciding whether to call, visit your website, or choose a competitor.
That's why review extortion is more than just an annoyance—it can directly impact your reputation, your rankings, and your revenue.
Fortunately, Google is taking this issue more seriously than ever before. By recognizing the warning signs, documenting every interaction, and using Google's dedicated extortion report form, businesses have a much better chance of getting fraudulent reviews removed quickly.
If you're dealing with suspicious reviews or want help proactively managing your online reputation, Kite Media is here to help. As a part of our search engine optimization service, we actively manage Google Business Profiles, monitor reviews, assist with profile issues, and help businesses protect one of their most valuable marketing assets: their online reputation. We also help build and manage websites, so you have a digital business space that is owned by you, instead of relying solely on your Google Business Profile. Contact us today to learn more!