They say the customer is always right—unless that “customer” is a scammer in another country writing fake reviews faster than you can say “five stars.”
In this publication, we’re diving into a new scam that’s hijacking online reviews to extort small business owners across the United States. If your livelihood depends on Google Maps, Yelp, or TripAdvisor, this one hits close to home.
Scammers are flooding review platforms with fake one-star ratings, then demanding payment to remove them. What makes it worse? They’re using AI to churn out realistic, detailed stories that look authentic to unsuspecting consumers.
Here’s how it works:
The scammer contacts a business—usually by WhatsApp—with a warning that negative reviews are about to pour in. Soon after, the business sees a wave of one-star posts tanking their ratings. If the owner pays, the reviews may disappear briefly, but the cycle quickly restarts under new accounts. It’s a classic extortion scheme wrapped in digital disguise.
The main targets are small businesses like contractors, movers, roofers, and repair shops—industries where trust and reputation mean everything. Robert Reyes, a moving company owner in Orlando, described dozens of fake reviews labeling his company “a total scam.” One reviewer even pivoted the very next day to leave similar slams on a nearby roofing company, showing how organized and widespread the operation is.
Why should you care?
Because more than 90% of consumers check reviews before booking services or making purchases. A single drop from five stars to the low threes can devastate a business’s credibility, costing customers, contracts, and income. What took years to build can crumble overnight.
So what can you do?
- Watch for sudden rating drops. A cluster of negative reviews appearing all at once is often a red flag.
- Check reviewer profiles. Fake accounts often lack photos, have few past reviews, or review unrelated businesses worldwide.
- Document everything. Keep screenshots of fake reviews and any extortion messages you receive.
- Report directly. Use Google’s “Report review” option or submit a legal notice for removal.
- Never pay scammers. It rarely ends the attacks—it only fuels them.
Quick Tip: Did you know the FTC now bans AI-generated or paid fake reviews? Violators face fines of up to $50,000 per review.
Pro Tip: Protect your listings by removing personal contact details like cell numbers—scammers often use them to launch attacks.
Stay safe, stay informed, and remember—sometimes the worst “customers” never even walk through your door.
Keywords Defined
- Review Attack: A scam where fraudsters flood online platforms with fake negative reviews to damage a business’s reputation and extort money.
- Extortion: Forcing someone to pay money or give up something of value through threats or coercion.
- AI-generated Reviews: Fake reviews created using artificial intelligence to sound more realistic and harder to detect.
- FTC (Federal Trade Commission): The U.S. government agency that enforces consumer protection laws and regulates unfair business practices.
- Reputation Management: The practice of monitoring and improving how a business is perceived online.
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