Fake Google reviews: how to prove they are not from real customers
A handful of negative reviews can hurt a small business. When you suspect they are fake, the question is how to prove it.
Step one: document everything
- Capture each review with its date, author name, rating and text before it is edited or deleted.
- Do it in a way that can be relied on later: an expert can make a formal record.
Step two: cross-check with your own data
- Compare the reviewers with your customer database: names, visit dates and services.
- Look for reviews posted before a first visit, or from people who appear nowhere in your records.
Step three: the platform's data
- Google does not identify reviewers on its own initiative, but in court proceedings it can be required to provide data linked to the accounts (such as email addresses or phone numbers).
- Cross-checking that data with your customer database can reveal that several profiles under different names are the same person, or that the reviewer was never a customer.
Bear in mind
- Data protection applies: the customer database must be handled with appropriate safeguards.
- An expert report strengthens your claim before the platform or the court.