Once reviews are identified, a company can take steps to remove them. Generally, reviews can be removed in one of three ways: reporting the review to the FTC, reporting the review to the hosting platform, and pursuing legal action. The most efficient way to tackle and remove fake reviews will involve a combination of all three.
In Part One of this two-part series, we explored ways for businesses to identify and report fake reviews. Now, we’ll focus on strategies for removing them.
Reporting a Fake Review to the FTC
The FTC’s new ruling provides businesses with a crucial new step in the reporting process. The FTC will now pursue and fine infringing individuals, but the timeline for this process remains to be seen. Businesses should not rely on the FTC’s action alone to clean up bad reviews, as waiting too long to remove them decreases your chance of identifying the perpetrator, pursuing a court order, and seeking damages. Indeed, legal claims related to fake reviews have very short, specific timelines, or statute of limitations, to be pursued.
Report a Fake Review to Google, Amazon, and Other Targeted Platforms
Social media, review, and e-commerce platforms are increasingly taking internal action to preserve the integrity of their platforms by combatting and removing fake reviews. Most platforms have established policies and guidelines in place whereby reviews that appear to be fake are removed. However, businesses should keep in mind that each platform will remove reviews in accordance with their own internal policies and procedures and these policies might be limited. Additionally, large platforms frequently have internal algorithms and “bots” that conduct the review process, meaning that the average person, or business, may struggle to get the attention of the platform. Still, “flagging” suspicious reviews is a necessary and cost-effective step to remove reviews. We compiled a list of the flagging processes for some top social media, review, and e-commerce platforms:
Amazon
Report suspicious reviews in two ways:
- Click on the Report button found below the review and follow the steps.
- Send an email to community-help@amazon.com.
Facebook
Consumers
- In the posted review, click on the menu arrow in the top right-hand corner of the review.
- Select Report Post from the menu and follow the instructions.
Business owners
- Log in to your Facebook business page.
- Go to the Reviews tab and find the review you want to report.
- Click on the three dots in the top left corner of the review.
- Select Report Post from the menu and follow the instructions.
Google
Consumers
- In the posted review, click the three vertical dots in the top right-hand corner of the review.
- Select Flag as inappropriate from the menu.
Business owners
- Sign into your Google account and go to Manage Your Business Profile.
- Open the profile you’d like to manage and click Reviews on the left-hand menu.
- Locate the posted review and click Flag as inappropriate.
TripAdvisor
Consumers
- In the posted review, click Problem with this review? in the bottom-right corner of the review box.
- Select a reason from the list and click Next.
- Leave a comment and submit.
Business owners
- Log in to the Business Management Center at tripadvisor.com/Owners.
- Under the Reviews tab, click Report a Review.
- Fill out the form and submit reasons why the review should be removed.
Trustpilot
Consumers
- In the posted review, click on the flag icon.
- The site will ask you to confirm that you’re not from the reviewed company.
- Select a reason from the list and click Next.
- Submit your report and click Next.
- Select Finish after you get confirmation that the review has been flagged.
Business owners
- Log in to your business account at trustpilot.com/users/connect, go to Reviews, then select Service Reviews.
- In the posted review, click on the flag icon.
- Select a reason from the list.
- Read the guidelines and click Continue.
- Highlight the review and click Continue.
Yelp
Consumers
- Locate the posted review on the business page or in the user’s profile.
- From the business page: Select the More Options button and click Report review.
- From the user’s profile: Locate the flag icon and click to Report review.
Business owners
- Go to the Reviews page on your business account at https://biz.yelp.com/login.
- In the posted review, click on the three dots in the right-hand corner.
- Select Report Review.
- Select the reason for reporting the review from the drop-down list.
- Click Submit.
RateMDs
- Navigate to your profile on RateMDs and identify the specific review you believe is fake.
- Click on the “Flag” option located beneath the review.
- Select the reason for flagging, such as “Profanity,” “Private Information,” “Spam,” “Wrong Provider,” or “Other.”
- Provide additional information if prompted, explaining why you believe the review violates RateMDs’ guidelines.
- If the review remains, contact RateMDs Support by emailing support@ratemds.com.
If the review remains after flagging, your next step is to pursue legal action.
Pursue Legal Action to Remove Fake Reviews
If you or your company is being targeted by fake reviews on e-commerce platforms like Amazon, or search engine directory sites like Google, you have options. Fake reviews often give rise to legal claims, which can include defamation, tortious interference, as well as unfair competition laws. Accordingly, if you or your business are being targeted by an influx of fake reviews, you should contact an attorney. Your legal options will depend on when the reviews were posted, how egregious the narrative is, and whether you know the identity of the fake reviewer.
Attorneys typically secure removal of fake reviews by sending demand letters or filing lawsuits against the reviewer. If the author of a fake review is unknown, internet defamation and content removal attorneys can file lawsuits against a John Doe, or an anonymous person. Through the litigation process, the identity of the fake reviewer can be unmasked.
Is Your Business Under Attack? Contact an Attorney
Businesses being targeted by fake reviews have options. An internet defamation and content removal attorney can help businesses address these attacks while ensuring compliance with the applicable guidance, including the FTC’s new rule.
