An email offering a script, payment, or a batch of five-star reviews isn't a shortcut worth taking. Don't publish a review for a product or business you haven't used, and don't pay for one. Keep the message, report it through an official channel, and protect any account or payment information you may have shared.

A normal request for feedback isn't automatically fraudulent. The conditions attached to it are what matter. This guidance is for U.S. readers. Google, Amazon, Yelp, Trustpilot, and other platforms set their own rules, so check the current policy for the service involved.

Warning signs in a fake review email

Be cautious when a message:

An incentive for an honest review isn't automatically the same as a fake review. Check four things: whether the reviewer has real experience, whether the reward depends on a positive rating, whether the relationship must be disclosed, and whether the platform allows the arrangement.

What U.S. law says

The Federal Trade Commission's Consumer Reviews and Testimonials Rule took effect on October 21, 2024. It addresses deceptive and unfair conduct involving consumer reviews and testimonials, including the sale or purchase of fake reviews.

The FTC's questions and answers say that brokers of fake reviews would generally fall under Section 465.2(a)'s prohibition on selling a consumer review because they are generally paid to provide reviews that don't represent genuine consumer experiences. The rule also addresses reviews from people who haven't used the product or service and other misleading practices.

The FTC can seek civil penalties against knowing violators. The rule itself does not create a private right of action, so a consumer can't automatically bring a private lawsuit under that rule alone. Other laws, contracts, and state rules may apply to a particular situation.

Read the FTC's questions and answers about the Consumer Reviews and Testimonials Rule and its announcement of the final rule.

The FTC rule and a platform's content policy are separate. A platform may remove a review or restrict an account under its own rules, while the FTC may investigate conduct that violates federal law. A platform leaving a review online doesn't establish that the review is legally valid.

If you receive an offer

Don't post, pay, or use the email's links

Don't accept a rating you can't honestly support. Avoid clicking links, opening unexpected attachments, or signing in through the message. If the sender claims to represent a marketplace or review site, open the service by typing its address yourself.

You don't have to reply. Marking the message as spam or phishing is often the safer choice. If you want to decline, keep it brief:

Subject: Re: Review opportunity

I don't post reviews for products or services I haven't personally used, and I won't accept payment tied to a positive rating. Please remove me from future messages.

Save the evidence

Before deleting the message, preserve:

Keep the original message in your account. If you forward it, forwarding shouldn't replace the original, and you shouldn't edit the saved evidence.

Report the solicitation

Report the email to your provider as spam or phishing. When the offer involves a review on a particular platform, use that platform's official support or reporting tool instead of a link supplied in the email.

You can also submit suspected deceptive conduct through the FTC's fraud reporting form. The FTC's consumer guidance on evaluating online reviews recommends checking multiple sources because reviews can be fake, manipulated, or missing important context. A report doesn't guarantee that a review will be removed or that you will receive money back.

Secure accounts and payment details

If you entered a password, change it through the service's official website and turn on multifactor authentication. If you provided card, bank, or peer-to-peer payment details, contact the provider promptly and ask which security or transaction-dispute options apply. The result depends on the payment method, timing, and facts; a refund isn't automatic.

If the sender threatens your business or demands money to stop negative reviews, don't negotiate or pay. Save the threats and use the platform's extortion or abuse reporting route. Contact local law enforcement if there are credible threats or an immediate safety concern.

If your business receives a suspicious review

A sudden review may deserve investigation, but it isn't proof of fraud. Don't accuse the reviewer publicly based only on the writing style, star rating, or profile picture.

Instead:

  1. Save the review URL, profile details, date, screenshots, and any related email or message.
  2. Check whether the reviewer appears to have used the business, without exposing private customer information.
  3. Report the review under the platform's applicable fraud, impersonation, or irrelevant-content category.
  4. Use the platform's appeal process if the first report is rejected.
  5. If appropriate, post a calm, factual response with a legitimate contact method.

For Google Business Profiles, follow Google's instructions for reporting inappropriate reviews. Google says reviews that violate its content policies may be removed, but reporting a review doesn't guarantee removal. An unfair or unpleasant review may remain if it doesn't violate the platform's rules.

Don't buy positive reviews to counter a suspicious negative one. That can create a separate policy and compliance problem.

A legitimate review request

A business can ask real customers for honest feedback without dictating the result. For example:

Subject: How was [product or service]?

Hi [Name],

Thanks for choosing [business]. Once you've had a chance to use [product or service], we'd appreciate an honest review on [platform]: [official review link]. Please describe your own experience. Positive, negative, or mixed feedback is welcome, and the request is optional.

Thank you,
[Name]
[Business]

Before sending the request, check that:

If the customer received a discount, free product, or another benefit, the review should accurately disclose that relationship in the manner required by applicable guidance and platform rules.

How to assess a suspicious review

One short review, low rating, awkward phrase, or unusual profile picture doesn't prove that a review is fake. Look for a pattern across several sources:

Compare independent sources and read both favorable and unfavorable feedback. Labels and verification badges add context, but they aren't a substitute for judgment. If a review appears to violate a platform's rules, report the specific evidence rather than simply saying that you dislike it.

Common questions

Are paid reviews always illegal?

Not every incentive arrangement is automatically prohibited in every setting. The serious problems include reviews from people without genuine experience, payment tied to a positive rating, undisclosed relationships, and the sale or purchase of fake reviews. A real user may still need to disclose an incentive, and a platform may prohibit incentives even when the review is honest. Check both the applicable law and the platform's current rules.

Can I report a fake review to the FTC?

Yes. Submit suspected deceptive conduct through the FTC's fraud reporting form and report the review or solicitation directly to the relevant platform. These are separate routes. Neither one guarantees removal of a particular review or a refund.

Can a business remove a negative review?

A business generally can't remove a review merely because it is negative or unfair. It can report reviews that violate the platform's rules, such as reviews involving impersonation, irrelevant content, or evidence of fraudulent activity. The platform decides whether to remove the review.

What if a review broker already charged me?

Save the invoice, messages, payment records, promised deliverables, and any reviews that were posted. Contact the payment provider quickly and ask about its dispute or fraud process. Don't send more money to obtain a refund or stop additional reviews, and secure any account credentials you shared.