Summary : Review extortion scams are rising fast. Learn how to spot, report, and protect your business from fake reviews, blackmail attempts, and reputation damage before it’s too late.
Online reviews can make or break a business. For small business owners, they’re often the lifeblood of visibility and trust. But where there’s opportunity, there’s also exploitation, and that’s where review extortion scams come in.
These scams are simple yet devastating. Fraudsters threaten to post fake negative reviews unless you pay up, offer freebies, or meet their demands. It’s a growing problem that leaves many business owners frustrated, helpless, and unsure how to respond.
In today’s digital landscape, where one bad review can push potential customers away, knowing how to handle and prevent review extortion is not optional, it’s essential.
Understanding Review Extortion
Review extortion is a form of online blackmail. Scammers contact businesses through email, text, or even Google reviews, threatening to post damaging feedback unless they are compensated. Some don’t even wait for a response; they post a wave of fake one-star reviews first and then send a message demanding payment to stop.
These scams can happen to anyone, from restaurants and salons to professional services. The common goal is to make you panic about your reputation.
The damage can be immediate. A few fake reviews can lower your rating, hurt your Google visibility, and turn away potential customers before you realize what’s happening. Beyond financial loss, these attacks take an emotional toll and consume valuable time.
How Review Extortion Scams Typically Work
Most scams follow a similar pattern:
- A business receives a message saying something like, “Pay us or we’ll flood your page with one-star reviews.”
- The threats escalate as fake reviews start appearing.
- The scammer may pretend to be a customer, a competitor, or even an anonymous group.
- Some use bots or networks of fake accounts to post multiple reviews at once.
The goal is to pressure you into paying. Sadly, paying rarely solves the problem. It only signals that your business is an easy target.
The consequences are serious. Your visibility drops, your reputation takes a hit, and your credibility suffers. Even when false reviews are eventually removed, the damage often lingers.
What Google Says About Review Extortion
Google has publicly acknowledged the rise in review extortion scams and urges business owners not to pay under any circumstances.
Here are Google’s main recommendations:
- Flag and report fake reviews: In your Google Business Profile, click on the three dots next to the suspicious review and select “Report review.”
- Monitor reviews regularly: Keep an eye on your listings so you can react quickly.
- Document everything: Save screenshots, timestamps, emails, or texts related to the threat.
- Avoid direct engagement: Do not respond to or negotiate with the scammer.
- Stay patient: Review removals can take time, but consistent reporting helps Google identify repeat offenders.
Google also suggests posting a calm, factual response when necessary. For example:
“We have no record of this person as a customer. We believe this review may be fraudulent and have reported it.”
This shows transparency and professionalism while assuring real customers that you’re handling the matter responsibly.
Best Practices to Protect Your Business
You can’t control scammers, but you can control your reputation. A strong foundation of legitimate customer feedback makes it much harder for fake reviews to do real harm.
Here are some steps to protect your business:
- Encourage genuine reviews. Ask satisfied customers to share their experience. The more authentic reviews you have, the harder it is for fake ones to stand out.
- Respond to every review. Whether positive or negative, reply to show you’re listening and engaged.
- Educate your team. Make sure employees recognize suspicious messages and know how to report them.
- Monitor daily. Set up alerts and use reputation tools to spot sudden rating drops or patterns of suspicious reviews.
- Create a clear policy. State publicly that your business does not pay for reviews or remove negative ones in exchange for money.
- Document threats. Keep records of any messages or screenshots you receive. These can be crucial for legal action later.
Proactive management prevents panic and helps your brand stay resilient.
How to Respond If You’re Targeted
If you find yourself under review extortion, stay calm and follow this structured approach.
Step 1: Stay Silent and Document Everything
Do not reply to the scammer. Save every email, message, and review with timestamps.
Step 2: Flag the Review
Use your Google Business Profile to report the review as “Spam” or “Conflict of interest.”
Step 3: Report to Platforms
If threats come through text or social media, report those accounts through the platform’s abuse channels.
Step 4: Respond Publicly if Needed
If the review remains live, reply briefly and professionally. For example:
“We take customer feedback seriously, but this review does not reflect any known interaction. We’ve reported it for investigation.”
Step 5: Contact Authorities
If money is being demanded, report it to law enforcement or cybercrime authorities. Extortion is a criminal act.
Step 6: Seek Legal Support
Consult an attorney with experience in online reputation or cyber law. They can guide you through formal notices or further escalation.
Step 7: Rebuild with Authentic Reviews
Encourage real customers to post genuine feedback. Fresh, legitimate reviews will quickly outweigh the fake ones.
Legal Protections for Businesses
You are not powerless against extortion. Several laws provide protection and support:
- Consumer Review Fairness Act (CRFA): Protects honest reviews and penalizes businesses or individuals who manipulate them.
- Defamation Laws: False reviews that damage your business may qualify as defamation.
- Extortion Laws: Any threat that demands payment to avoid harm is considered criminal.
- Documentation Matters: Always keep every piece of evidence, from messages to timestamps.
If you are unsure about your options, seek professional legal advice. An attorney can help you prepare official complaints or pursue further action if needed.
Stay Vigilant and Protect What You’ve Built
Your reputation is one of your greatest business assets, and that makes it a target.
But knowledge is your best defense. By staying alert, maintaining a steady stream of genuine reviews, and using Google’s reporting tools effectively, you can minimize the impact of review extortion scams.
Never engage. Never pay. Always document.
A trusted reputation takes years to build but only moments to protect when you have the right strategy. Stay proactive, stay professional, and keep your digital presence strong.
