$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
fake Google review extortion scam
Scammers threaten to flood a business with fake negative Google reviews unless the business pays a fee, or offer to remove existing negative reviews for a price.
“online shopping scam”
↑ 184%Key indicators
Usually targetsSmall business owners
Often hitsSmall business owners
Common regionUnited States
Last updated2026-04-04
Estimated impact
$640
median reported loss
Typical range$40 – $4.0K
Recovery rate~15%
Scam breakdown
1
Scammers contact business owners directly or post a wave of fake one-star reviews to damage the business's rating.
2
They then offer to remove the reviews or stop the attack in exchange for payment.
3
Even if the business pays, the scammer often returns with more demands or never removes the reviews.
What to do first
Do not pay — report the fake reviews to Google through your Business Profile by flagging each one as inappropriate.
Related terms
Google review blackmailnegative review extortionFake review scamsGoogleSurgingSmall business ownersRestaurant ownersLocal businessesSmall business ownersCreators and online sellersUnited StatesUnited KingdomCanadaGoogle review blackmailnegative review extortion
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Thomas, 45, a small business owners, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate fake review scams situation while using Google. Scammers contact business owners directly or post a wave of fake one-star reviews to damage the business's rating.
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: They then offer to remove the reviews or stop the attack in exchange for payment.
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: Even if the business pays, the scammer often returns with more demands or never removes the reviews.
The outcome
Thomas realized something was wrong when someone contacts you threatening to post negative reviews unless you pay them. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Do not pay — report the fake reviews to Google through your Business Profile by flagging each one as inappropriate. Thomas's experience shows why someone contacts you threatening to post negative reviews unless you pay them and an offer to remove negative reviews for a fee — this violates google's policies are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- Someone contacts you threatening to post negative reviews unless you pay them
- An offer to remove negative reviews for a fee — this violates Google's policies
- Multiple similar negative reviews appear suddenly from accounts with no review history
- Pause before paying, clicking, or sharing information. Scammers rely on speed.
- Verify the sender, company, or agency using a phone number or website you already know is legitimate.
- Treat secrecy, urgency, and off-platform payment requests as strong scam signals.
What to do now
- ✓Do not pay — report the fake reviews to Google through your Business Profile by flagging each one as inappropriate.
- ✓Document everything including screenshots and any communication from the extortionist.
- ✓Report the extortion to local law enforcement and the FBI IC3.
What to save before reporting
- ✓Save the message, profile, phone number, email, or URL that was used.
- ✓Keep payment confirmations, receipts, and account alerts before you dispute or delete anything.
- ✓Write down the timeline while the details are still fresh.
How big is this problem
You are not alone — this scam affects millions of people.
These numbers come from government agencies and official reports. If you have been affected, know that this is a widespread problem — not something that only happens to careless people.
FTC 2024 fraud losses
Imposters
Most common FTC fraud category in 2024
FTC says imposter scams remained the most commonly reported fraud category in 2024.
History and evolution
- This scam family tends to persist because the social-engineering pressure works even when the exact scripts, platforms, and payment methods change.
- The specific packaging evolves over time, but the core pattern usually stays the same: create urgency, control the channel, and push action before verification.
- Review extortion has been flagged by the FTC and BBB as a growing threat to small businesses, with the FTC taking enforcement actions against fake review schemes.
Recovery and follow-up
- ✓Save the messages, receipts, account alerts, and transaction details before you block or delete anything.
- ✓Report the scam through the official platform or government channel that best matches where it happened.
- ✓Do not pay — report the fake reviews to Google through your Business Profile by flagging each one as inappropriate.
- ✓Document everything including screenshots and any communication from the extortionist.
- ✓Report the extortion to local law enforcement and the FBI IC3.
Why this pattern keeps working
Even when the story changes, most scams still use the same pressure pattern: urgency, authority, and a request to move money or data fast.
Review extortion has been flagged by the FTC and BBB as a growing threat to small businesses, with the FTC taking enforcement actions against fake review schemes.
BBB Scam Tracker 2025
Where to report it
If you have been targeted by this scam, reporting it helps authorities track the pattern and protect others. United States has dedicated agencies that handle fraud reports.
ReportFraud.gov
Federal Trade Commission
Central U.S. consumer fraud reporting portal.
File an IC3 complaint
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
FBI portal for internet-enabled crime reports.
Start identity theft recovery
IdentityTheft.gov
Official U.S. identity theft recovery plan builder.
Explore further
Understand the bigger picture
Who is most at risk
Who this scam targets
Primary targets
Small business owners, Restaurant owners, Local businesses
Geographic concentration
United States, United Kingdom, Canada
Primary channel
Google — Fake review scams
Why this group is vulnerable
Small business owners are particularly vulnerable because this scam exploits trust in familiar brands, authority figures, and time-sensitive decisions. The rapid increase in reports suggests that awareness among this demographic remains low.
Sources and methodology
How we verify this information
OpenScam tracks scam patterns using a combination of government consumer protection databases (FTC, IC3, Action Fraud), platform-specific fraud reports, and verified consumer complaint data. Each entry is cross-referenced against at least two independent sources before publication.
Severity ratings are based on financial impact potential, reversibility of damage, and volume of reports across multiple reporting channels. Trend velocity reflects the rate of change in report volume over the most recent 90-day window.
This page was last verified on 2026-04-04. Red flags, recovery steps, and reporting resources are reviewed quarterly against current agency guidance.
Evidence and indicators
- Review extortion has been flagged by the FTC and BBB as a growing threat to small businesses, with the FTC taking enforcement actions against fake review schemes.
Source notes
- BBB Scam Tracker 2025
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about fake google review extortion scam
How does the fake google review extortion scam work?+
Scammers contact business owners directly or post a wave of fake one-star reviews to damage the business's rating. They then offer to remove the reviews or stop the attack in exchange for payment. Even if the business pays, the scammer often returns with more demands or never removes the reviews.
What are the warning signs of fake google review extortion scam?+
Someone contacts you threatening to post negative reviews unless you pay them An offer to remove negative reviews for a fee — this violates Google's policies Multiple similar negative reviews appear suddenly from accounts with no review history
What should I do if I encounter fake google review extortion scam?+
Do not pay — report the fake reviews to Google through your Business Profile by flagging each one as inappropriate. Document everything including screenshots and any communication from the extortionist. Report the extortion to local law enforcement and the FBI IC3.
Who is most at risk for fake google review extortion scam?+
This scam primarily targets Small business owners, Restaurant owners, Local businesses. It is most commonly reported in United States, United Kingdom, Canada and typically appears on Google.
Is fake google review extortion scam getting worse?+
fake Google review extortion scam is currently surging — reports are increasing rapidly. It has been reported across US, UK, CA. Last updated 2026-04-04.
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Help someone avoid this scam.
Scammers succeed because people do not talk about it. If you or someone you know has been affected, there is no shame in it — it happens to millions of people every year. Share this page with friends and family so they know what to look for.
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