Guide2026-02-106 min read

How to Remove Fake Google Reviews (Step-by-Step Guide)

Fake reviews are one of the most frustrating things a business owner deals with. A competitor, a disgruntled former employee, or a random person who never visited your business can tank your rating with a single click.

Here's the truth: Google doesn't remove every fake review. But there are steps you can take to fight back.

How to Spot a Fake Review

Before flagging a review, make sure it's actually fake. Common signs:

No record of the customer in your booking system, POS, or records

Vague complaints with no specific details about the visit

Reviewer profile has no photo, no other reviews, or only 1-star reviews across unrelated businesses

Timing coincides with a competitor opening or a disgruntled employee leaving

Copy-paste language that sounds like it was written for a different business

Step 1: Flag the Review in Google Business Profile

Log into your Google Business Profile

Find the review in question

Click the three-dot menu next to it

Select "Flag as inappropriate"

Choose the reason (spam, conflict of interest, etc.)

Google will review your flag and decide whether to remove it. This process can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks.

Important: Google only removes reviews that violate their content policies. A negative review that's simply unfair or inaccurate will NOT be removed. Google doesn't arbitrate factual disputes.

Step 2: Report Through Google's Support

If flagging doesn't work after 2 weeks:

Go to the Google Business Profile help page

Click "Contact us" or use the chat option

Explain why you believe the review is fake, with evidence

Provide specifics: "We have no customer record matching this name on this date"

Having documentation (appointment logs, transaction records) strengthens your case significantly.

Step 3: Respond to the Review Publicly

While waiting for Google to act (or if they don't remove it), respond to the review professionally:

"We appreciate all feedback, but we're unable to find a record of your visit in our system. We take every review seriously and would like to investigate further. Please contact us at [phone/email] so we can look into this."

This signals to future customers that the review may not be legitimate — without being accusatory.

Step 4: Bury It With Real Reviews

The best defense against fake reviews is volume. A single 1-star fake review hurts a lot less when you have 200 genuine reviews with a 4.7 average.

Focus on consistently collecting real reviews from happy customers:

Share your Google review link after every positive interaction

Use QR codes at your business location

Send follow-up review request emails/texts

This is where FiveReply's review collection tools — QR codes, direct links, and SMS/email campaigns — help you build a review volume that makes individual fake reviews irrelevant.

What Google Won't Remove

Google will NOT remove a review just because:

You disagree with it

The customer is exaggerating

The complaint is about pricing or policy

It's from a former employee (unless they identify themselves as such)

It's negative but describes a real experience

Google only removes reviews that violate their policies: spam, fake content, conflicts of interest, offensive language, or off-topic content.

Prevention: The Smart Review Funnel

The best strategy is proactive. Instead of waiting for bad reviews and trying to remove them, use a review funnel that captures unhappy customers before they post publicly.

FiveReply's Smart Review Funnel asks customers to rate their experience first. Happy customers (4-5 stars) get directed to Google. Unhappy customers (1-3 stars) get a private feedback form instead. You still hear the complaint and can address it — but it never becomes a public review.

This doesn't prevent fake reviews from external sources, but it significantly reduces the volume of legitimate negative reviews on your profile.

Protect Your Reputation Proactively

Fake reviews are a reality of doing business online. You can't prevent them entirely, but you can minimize their impact by maintaining a strong review profile, responding professionally, and using tools that help you collect and manage reviews efficiently.

Start protecting your rating today. Try FiveReply free for 14 days at fivereply.com.