How to Remove Fake Negative Reviews from Your Google Business Profile (Step-by-Step Guide)

The reviewer’s name isn’t familiar, the details don’t match any real interaction, and suddenly your rating drops. Frustrating, right?

You’re not alone. Businesses across the world deal with fake negative reviews every day. These reviews can damage your reputation, reduce customer trust, and even affect how high you appear in Google search results.

But here’s the good news: you can fight back. And in 2025, Google has introduced stronger systems to help businesses like yours get rid of fake reviews faster.

In this blog, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know—how to spot a fake review, the exact steps to report it, what to do if Google doesn’t act, and how to protect your business going forward.

This guide is designed to be:

• Easy to follow (step-by-step instructions).

• Actionable (what you can do right now).

• Reliable (with links to official Google articles for deeper reference).

So let’s dive in.

Why Fake Reviews Are a Big Problem

Fake reviews are not just annoying—they’re harmful in three main ways:

1. They damage trust. Many customers read reviews before making a decision. A fake 1-star review can scare them away.

2. They hurt search visibility. Google considers reviews in its ranking signals for local search. Bad reviews—even fake ones—can lower your ranking.

3. They take time and energy. Instead of focusing on your business, you’re stuck fighting against something you didn’t deserve.

According to Google, they removed 170 million fake reviews in 2023 alone. The good news is, they’re getting stricter every year.

Step 1: Learn How to Spot a Fake Review

The first step is recognizing when a review is fake. Not every bad review is fake—sometimes it’s genuine customer feedback. But here’s how to tell the difference:

• Vague or generic comments: “Bad service” or “Terrible experience” without details.

• Reviewer’s profile looks suspicious: No photo, no other reviews, or reviews across random cities in the same week.

• Language feels copy-pasted: Several reviews with nearly identical wording.

• Sudden spike in negatives: If you get 3–5 bad reviews overnight, it’s usually a coordinated attack.

• Doesn’t match your records: You check your bookings, invoices, or appointment logs—no such customer exists.

Step 2: Reach Out to the Reviewer (If Possible)

Sometimes, the review isn’t fake—it’s just a customer who’s unhappy. Before jumping into reporting, try reaching out politely:

• If you know who the customer is, call or email them to understand the situation.

• Respond publicly but politely:
  “Hi [Name], we couldn’t find a record of your visit. We’d love to resolve this for you—please reach out to us directly.”

Why this matters:

• Future customers see that you care and handle issues professionally.

• If it’s a misunderstanding, the reviewer might remove or update the review themselves.

But if the review is truly fake and the reviewer doesn’t respond, it’s time to move to official reporting.

Step 3: Report the Review to Google

Google allows you to flag reviews that violate its policies. This is your first official step to get a fake review removed.

Here’s how:

Option 1: From Google Maps or Search

1. Find your business listing.

2. Locate the fake review.

3. Click the three dots (⋮) next to the review.

4. Select “Report review”.

5. Choose a reason (e.g., “Spam,” “Conflict of interest,” “Offensive content”).

Option 2: From Google Business Profile Manager

1. Log into Google Business Profile Manager.

2. Go to Reviews.

3. Find the review you want to report.

4. Click the three dots and choose “Flag as inappropriate.”

Official Google reference: Remove reviews from your Business Profile

Step 4: Track the Status of Your Report

Many business owners get confused here—they report a review but don’t know what happens next.

Google provides tools to track progress:

• Visit the Google Reviews Management Tool.

• Select your business and check the review’s status:

  • Pending: Google is reviewing your request.

  • Decision made: Review was either removed or not removed.

  • Escalated: Google asked for more info.

This process usually takes a few days but can take up to 2–3 weeks.

Official Google reference: Check the status of reported reviews

Step 5: Escalate with Evidence

If Google refuses to remove the review, don’t give up. You can escalate:

1. Collect proof that the review is fake. Examples:

   • Booking or sales records showing the reviewer was never a customer.

   • Screenshots showing the same review posted on multiple businesses.

   • Evidence of spam behavior (multiple fake profiles posting in a short time).

2. Contact Google Support:

   • Go to Google Business Profile Help.

   • Select Reviews and photos → Manage customer reviews → Dispute a review.

   • Attach your evidence.

The stronger your case, the higher your chances of success.

Step 6: When to Consider Legal Action

Legal action should be your last resort, but in extreme cases (like defamatory or harmful content), it may be necessary.

• Send a cease-and-desist letter through a lawyer. Sometimes this alone works.

• File a defamation case. This can help unmask anonymous reviewers through legal discovery.

Caution: Legal action is time-consuming, expensive, and can draw unwanted attention. Use it only if the review is truly damaging your livelihood.

Step 7: Respond Strategically to Protect Your Reputation

While waiting for Google to act, don’t let silence hurt you. Respond publicly in a professional way.

Example response to a fake review:
“Hi, we take customer feedback seriously. We couldn’t find any record of your visit—please contact us directly so we can investigate further.”

This shows potential customers that:

• You’re transparent.

• You care about resolving issues.

• The review may not be credible.

Step 8: Strengthen Your Profile with Genuine Reviews

The best defense against fake negatives is a wall of genuine positives.

• Ask happy customers to leave reviews. (You can share your review link directly from Google Business Profile.)

• Train your team to ask at the right time—after a successful service or purchase.

• Never offer discounts or money for reviews—that violates Google policy.

Official Google reference: Get reviews on Google

The more real reviews you have, the less impact a fake one will have on your overall rating.

Step 9: Stay Alert for Scams

In recent years, some scammers blackmail businesses by threatening to post fake 1-star reviews unless you pay them.

If this happens to you:

• Do not pay.

• Save all communication as evidence.

• Report to Google and local law enforcement immediately.

Google has removed millions of reviews in similar scams, and they’re working hard to protect businesses.

Step 10: Keep Monitoring Your Reviews

Fake reviews can appear anytime, so make review monitoring a regular habit.

• Log into your Google Business Profile at least once a week.

• Set up Google Alerts for your business name.

• Use third-party tools if you manage multiple locations.

By catching fake reviews early, you can report them before they cause real harm.

Final Thoughts

Fake reviews are frustrating, but they don’t have to define your business. By spotting them early, reporting them properly, and strengthening your profile with genuine customer feedback, you can protect your reputation and keep growing.

The key is patience and persistence. Google won’t remove every review instantly, but with the right steps—and a little strategy—you can keep your profile clean and trustworthy.

That said, we know this process can feel overwhelming—especially if you’re running a business and don’t have time to chase every fake review or deal with Google’s back-and-forth.

That’s where Skyline Digital Lab can help. Our team specializes in Google Business Profile optimization and support, including review monitoring, reporting, and profile management. We make sure your GBP stays healthy, trustworthy, and ranking high—while you focus on serving your customers