Can Competitors Leave Fake Negative Reviews?

It happens more than you'd think. A competitor drops a one-star review on your listing to hurt your rating. It's unethical, often against the law, and unfortunately difficult to prove — but not impossible to deal with.

How to Spot Competitor Reviews

Look for:

• The reviewer's profile shows they've reviewed your competitors positively
• The review appeared right after you opened nearby or started competing directly
• The complaints don't match your actual service or products
• The reviewer has no other reviews or a brand-new account
• Multiple suspicious reviews appear around the same time

What to Do About It

First, flag the review through Google. Select the reason (spam, fake, or conflict of interest). Google takes fake reviews seriously, though the removal process can take days to weeks.

If the review isn't removed, respond professionally: "We take all feedback seriously, but we're unable to find any record of your visit. We'd love to discuss this further — please contact us at [email]." This signals to other readers that the review may not be genuine.

Document Everything

Screenshot the fake reviews, note the reviewer's profile, and document the timeline. If it's a pattern of harassment, this documentation can be useful for a formal complaint to Google or even legal action.

The Best Defence

A strong review profile is your best protection against fake reviews. If you have 150 genuine reviews with a 4.5-star rating, one fake one-star review barely dents your average. Focus on building your genuine review count as your primary defence strategy.

Also read our guide on removing fake reviews for step-by-step instructions.