Review Bombing, Fake Reviews, and Online Extortion: What Every Business Owner Needs to Know

Recently, one of our long-time clients contacted us, reporting that they’d received a sudden deluge of bad Google reviews from people they’d never done business with, much less spoken to. They were understandably disturbed.

This small business has a hard-earned, outstanding reputation and is beloved by all their clients. So this was especially upsetting to them.

We saw the problem immediately, and over the next week, we worked together to have all of the reviews removed.  

 We would love to tell you this was an isolated incident. Unfortunately, it wasn't.

Not long afterward, another client with a stellar reputation became the target of a similar attack. This time, however, the scammers contacted the business directly, offering to remove the reviews in exchange for a large sum of money while threatening to post even more if they refused. This is extortion. And that’s a criminal offense.

The client contacted us instead. We helped them document the extortion attempt, file a police report, and ultimately got the fake reviews removed.

 Are you wondering why this is such a big deal? We're glad you asked. Read on.

Your reputation has never mattered more.

Long before someone visits your website or calls your office, they're probably reading your reviews. A handful of negative comments can influence buying decisions, while a pattern of strong reviews builds confidence before a conversation even begins.

Some people don’t even get past the number of stars. Why bother with a business with 4 or fewer stars when another has 4.5?

Over the last few years, businesses across the country have become targets of what's known in our industry as "review bombing" and internet extortion scams. The playbook is surprisingly simple: post fake Google reviews, threaten to leave additional one-star reviews on Google or Facebook, then demand money or free products in exchange for removing them.

If you've never experienced it, it sounds unbelievable.

If you have, you know just how stressful it can be.

The good news is that you have options, and understanding how these scams work is the first step toward protecting your business. 

Let’s start with the basics.

 What Is Review Bombing?

Review bombing occurs when a business suddenly receives multiple negative reviews that are designed to damage its online reputation rather than reflect genuine customer experiences.

Sometimes these reviews come from competitors.

Sometimes they come from internet trolls.

Increasingly, however, they are part of organized internet extortion scams.

The goal isn't simply to hurt your reputation. It's to pressure you into paying money, providing free services, or giving discounts to make the reviews disappear.

How These Extortion Scams Usually Work

The scam often follows a predictable pattern. A business receives a one-star review from someone they don't recognize. Soon afterward, an email, phone call, or social media message arrives claiming the review can be removed—for a price.

Other scammers skip the first step and threaten to post multiple fake Google reviews unless the business sends payment immediately.

They count on panic.

Many business owners worry that one damaging review will undo years of hard work, so they feel pressured to respond quickly.

That's exactly what the scammers are hoping for.

  Don't Panic—And Don't Pay

When you feel like you’re under attack, it's tempting to make the problem disappear as quickly as possible. This is human and 100% understandable. 

Resist this urge.

Paying an extortionist rarely ends the problem. In many cases, it simply tells the scammer you've become an easy target for future demands.

As stated by the cybersecurity company Bitdefender, here’s what to do instead:

•  Document every review, email, text message, and threat.
•  Report the review through Google's or Facebook's reporting process if it violates platform policies.
• Report extortion attempts to the appropriate authorities.
• Respond professionally if a public response is appropriate.
• Continue encouraging genuine customers to leave honest reviews.

Authentic customer feedback is still one of the strongest defenses against fake reviews.

 How to Remove Fake Google Reviews

One of the most common questions business owners ask is how to remove reviews by people they've never done business with.

The answer isn't always what they want to hear.

Google doesn't remove reviews simply because a business disagrees with them. Reviews typically must violate Google's policies, such as spam, impersonation, conflicts of interest, harassment, or other prohibited content.

If a review clearly violates those policies, you can report it for review. 

While there is no guarantee it will be removed, businesses often succeed in having fake Google reviews removed when they provide clear evidence that the reviewer was never a customer or that the review violates Google's guidelines.

Until it is removed, a calm, professional follow-up response will help your image a great deal, especially if you state that you have no record of them as a client.

The important thing is to follow the proper reporting process rather than trying to argue with the reviewer publicly.

 Can You Remove a Negative Review on Facebook?

Facebook is trickier, though not impossible. We’ve gotten fake reviews removed from clients’ pages by simply reporting them as spam or as posting unrelated content to our clients’ pages. But it takes more than one report to get their attention, so we often ask clients to report it while we do too.  It’s not a bad idea to ask a few people you trust to do the same. Sometimes multiple reports will get their attention.

The other thing to do—and we recommend this for both:

If the review remains online, a calm, professional response often says more about your business than the review itself. Simply state that you take unhappy customers very seriously, but  have no record of ever having worked with the person writing the review.

Future customers are watching how you handle criticism just as much as they're reading the criticism itself.

The Best Defense Is an Active Reputation Strategy

Businesses that consistently earn positive reviews are far less vulnerable to review bombing than businesses that collect reviews only occasionally. A steady stream of legitimate customer feedback naturally outweighs the occasional fake review and gives potential customers a more accurate picture of your business. Monitoring reviews regularly also allows you to identify suspicious activity before it grows into a larger problem.

In today's digital world, reputation management isn't just about responding to problems.

It's about preventing them whenever possible.

Contact us if you want to learn how to request reviews from customers and effectively communicate the importance of their feedback. 

 Protect Your Reputation Before Someone Else Tries to Damage It

Your online reputation is one of your company's most valuable assets. Whether you're dealing with fake Google reviews today or want to be prepared for tomorrow, having a plan makes all the difference.

The businesses that respond calmly, document everything, follow platform guidelines, and continue building authentic customer trust almost always recover more effectively than those who react emotionally or give in to extortion demands.

We Can Help!  

Your online reputation deserves ongoing attention—not just when something goes wrong. At  Web Design By Knight, we help businesses monitor online reviews, respond professionally, encourage authentic customer feedback, and identify potential reputation issues before they become larger problems. If you're dealing with fake Google reviews, review bombing, or simply want someone keeping an eye on your business's online reputation, we're here to help.

 Please contact us if you are having a problem with negative reviews from people you did not do business with. 

Contact Web Design By Knight today to learn how our reputation management services can help protect one of your business's most valuable assets. 

 FAQs

 Can fake Google reviews be removed?

Sometimes. Google may remove reviews that violate its review policies, but it does not remove reviews simply because they're negative or inaccurate.

 What is review bombing?

Review bombing is the practice of posting multiple negative reviews to intentionally damage a business's online reputation, often without legitimate customer experiences behind them.

 Should I respond to fake reviews?

If the review is visible to customers, a calm, professional response can demonstrate your professionalism while you work through the reporting process.

 Can competitors leave fake reviews?

Unfortunately, yes. Competitors, disgruntled individuals, and scammers have all been known to post fake reviews. If a review violates platform policies, report it immediately.

 What are internet extortion scams involving reviews?

These scams involve criminals threatening to post—or continue posting—fake reviews unless a business pays money, provides gift cards, or offers free products or services.

 How can I protect my business from review bombing?

Monitor your reviews regularly, encourage satisfied customers to leave honest feedback, respond professionally to legitimate concerns, and work with a company that actively manages your online reputation.