What Can Businesses Do About Fake or Negative Google Reviews?

Every business gets a bad review now and then. It stings, but it happens. What’s worse is when the review is fake. A stranger with no connection to your business drops a one-star bomb, and your reputation takes a hit overnight.

If you’re wondering what to do when this happens, you’re in the right place.

Let’s answer the question most business owners ask next:
Can I remove a fake or unfair Google review from my page?

Why Fake Reviews Are Such a Big Problem

Google reviews carry weight. A lot of it.

According to a 2024 survey by BrightLocal, more than 87% of people read online reviews for local businesses. Your star rating is often the first impression someone has of you. Even one fake review can tank your score, drop your search visibility, and make potential customers think twice.

You might have 200 five-star reviews. But that one-star review calling you a scam? That’s what people notice first.

Can Businesses Delete Google Reviews?

Short answer: No.

You can’t log into your Google Business Profile and just delete a Google review. That option doesn’t exist. Only Google or the original reviewer can remove it.

So what can you do?

You can report the review and explain why it breaks Google’s review policy. And if that doesn’t work, you can bring in expert help.

Step 1: Know the Rules

Google doesn’t remove reviews just because you don’t like them. The review has to violate their content policy.

Here’s what counts:

• Spam or fake content
• Reviews from people who never used your business
• Hate speech or harassment
• Off-topic comments
• Multiple reviews from the same user on different accounts

Look for patterns. If three one-star reviews show up in five minutes from blank accounts, that’s a red flag.

One restaurant owner in New York said, “We had a wave of bad reviews after a competitor opened next door. All were anonymous, all said the same thing. We knew it wasn’t real.”

Step 2: Flag the Review

Start with Google’s built-in tool.

Here’s how:

1. Go to your Google Business Profile
2. Click “Reviews”
3. Find the one that’s fake
4. Click the three dots
5. Select “Report review”
6. Choose a reason that matches the violation
   

Google will review your report. Sometimes they act fast. Sometimes they ignore it.

Step 3: Use the Policy Violation Form

If the review stays up, don’t give up. Use Google’s policy violation form.

This is your chance to explain the situation. Be specific. If you have proof the person never interacted with your business, include it. Keep it short and clear.

One auto shop owner said, “We submitted proof from our appointment logs showing that no one with that name or phone number ever booked with us. Google took it down after we filed a second report.”

Step 4: Reply Publicly

Even if it’s fake, always respond.

A simple reply shows other readers you’re active and professional. It also makes the review look less damaging.

Example:

“We take all feedback seriously, but we have no record of this person being a customer. If this is a mistake, please contact us directly so we can resolve it.”

Now you’ve taken control of the narrative. That matters more than you think.

Step 5: Call in the Pros

If you’ve flagged it and filled out the form and nothing changes, it’s time to call for backup.

Companies like Reputation Galaxy are experts at this. They know how to build a proper case that gets Google’s attention. They don’t just hit “report” and wait. They track reviewer patterns, compare IP activity, and build proof that a review is fake.

A landscaping business in Arizona shared this:
“We got hit with three bad reviews from accounts that had never reviewed anyone else. Reputation Galaxy showed they were all created within minutes of each other and tied to the same email pattern. Google removed all three after their report.”

This is what a real removal process looks like.

What Does Review Removal Cost?

It depends on how many reviews need to be removed and how complex the case is.

Here’s a general range:

Stay away from anyone offering “instant removal” for $50. That’s usually a scam or bot-based spam. Real services take time, proof, and follow-up.

Can You Prevent Fake Reviews?

Not 100%. But you can protect your business by building a wall of real, honest reviews.

Here’s how:

• Ask happy customers for reviews right after service
• Use a QR code or text message with a link
• Set up weekly review monitoring alerts
• Respond to every review to show you’re engaged

The more real reviews you have, the less impact a fake one will have.

How to Build a Stronger Google Profile

Even if you remove one bad review, there’s more to do. Make your profile strong so that future reviews don’t hurt as much.

• Keep your business hours, phone number, and photos updated
• Post regular updates or offers to show activity
• Use Google’s Q&A feature to answer common questions
• Encourage repeat customers to update or edit past reviews

When your page looks legit and active, people trust it. That matters more than a random one-star post.

Final Thoughts

Fake and unfair reviews are frustrating. They hurt your business and your reputation. But you’re not powerless.

You can’t delete a Google review yourself, but you can report it, respond to it, and fight back. And if that fails, companies like Reputation Galaxy can step in and clean up the mess.

Keep your cool, follow the steps, and protect your brand. Your reputation is worth it.