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There’s a troubling new scam making the rounds, and it’s picking up steam fast. Fake 1-star Google reviews are being posted on small business listings, followed by extortion-style emails demanding payment to take them down. Unfortunately, two of our clients (BNP consulting & Lock Works) have already been hit by it.

For small and local businesses that depend on online reviews to build trust and bring in new customers, this kind of scam is more than just annoying, it’s a real threat to your reputation and your bottom line.

So let’s talk about what this scam looks like, how to tell if you’re being targeted, what to do if it happens to you, and how to tell the difference between real help and bad actors just looking to make a quick buck.

What Is a Review Extortion Scam?

Here’s how it usually works:

Someone leaves a 1-star Google review on your business profile. You can’t find any record of this person being a real customer. Then, you get an email or message saying something like:

“If you pay us $500, we’ll take down the 25 one-star reviews we just posted on your GBP.”

It’s straight-up blackmail. And unfortunately, it’s effective, especially when a small business is desperate to protect their hard-earned reputation.

How to Spot a Fake or Scam Review

Some of these review scams are more obvious than others, but here are a few key things to watch for when you’re trying to figure out whether a review is legitimate:

• Phone numbers in the review: If the review text or profile image includes a phone number, that’s a major red flag. Never call the number, this is just another way to lure you into direct contact.
• Check the reviewer’s history: If the profile has no other reviews or only one or two, that’s a sign it may be fake. Real reviewers usually have a history of rating other businesses.
• Look at the name and photo: Does the name sound made up? Is the profile image missing or clearly fake? Generic usernames like “John Doe” are often used by scammers.
• Cross-check your own records: Look in your CRM, booking system, or customer database. If the reviewer never showed up in your workflow, they probably never interacted with your business.
• Trust your instincts: If something feels off, it probably is. Scam reviews often use vague or generic language and may follow a similar structure or tone across multiple reviews.

Why Are Small and Local Businesses Being Targeted?

Scammers go after small businesses because they know your reputation matters, and they know you already have more on your plate than hours in the day.

Local businesses often rely heavily on Google reviews to attract new customers. Whether you run a restaurant, a local shop, or offer professional services, those gold stars are often the first thing people see when they search for what you offer.

Just one 1-star review can hurt your ranking or cause customers to look elsewhere. Scammers are counting on that fear and hoping you’ll pay just to make the problem go away.

Google’s Official Guidance: What You Should Do

Because this has become such a common problem, Google now has an official support article that outlines what to do in the case of review extortion: How to report and remove review extortion scams.

Here’s a summary of the steps:

1. Don’t engage with the scammer
   Never respond directly. It only encourages them.
2. Flag the review as inappropriate
   In your Google Business Profile, report the review by selecting “Off-topic” or “Spam.”
3. Use the Business Profile Help
   Head to your Google Business dashboard and get in touch with their support team. You can request a callback or chat with a representative to escalate the issue.
4. Keep a record
   Take screenshots of the review, any messages you’ve received, and note the dates. This can be helpful if the issue escalates or if additional reviews appear.
5. Encourage real reviews
   One of the best ways to fight back is to flood your profile with authentic 5-star reviews from real customers.

Constantly working to get those 5-star reviews is your best defensive strategy. It helps you in tons of other ways by driving better rankings and conversions, but it also makes you a harder target. Overcoming 200 5-stars is much harder than burying someone who has only 20.

But What If You Need Help Navigating It?

Yes, you can tackle this mess yourself. Google has a process, and if you’ve got the time and patience to follow it step by step, you can get through it.

Most of the time, our clients see this as high-stakes and time-consuming enough to hand off to a pro. Every day your listing is down or your rating is trashed can cost you real money so this isn’t something most people are willing to play with.

Put it this way: If you had a compound fracture (bone sticking out, blood everywhere) you wouldn’t try to fix it yourself. You’d head straight to the hospital. Same goes here. When your business’s reputation is bleeding out, you want someone who knows how to stop the damage fast and get things back to normal.

Unlike the scammers, we’re not the arsonist pretending to be the firefighter. We’re just here to help clean up the mess. Our Star Saver service was built for situations like this, and it’s been a quick solution to a sticky problem for a lot of clients.

Final Thoughts

Review extortion scams are an unfortunate reality of doing business online today. But you’re not powerless.

With Google now officially acknowledging the problem, it’s more important than ever to stay informed and act quickly when suspicious activity shows up on your listing. Whether you handle it yourself or work with a trusted partner, the most important thing is to protect your reputation without giving in to threats.

Need a hand? We’re here for you, because you shouldn’t have to fight scammers, or Google’s policies, alone.