If a review looks fake, don't begin by demanding that the platform delete it. Save the direct review link or ID, take a screenshot, and report the specific conduct through the platform's official tool. Explain what you can show, such as copied wording, an unrelated product, or a demand for payment. Never pay a service that promises guaranteed removal.

A low rating, anonymous profile, missing order record, or "unverified purchase" label isn't proof on its own. The reviewer may have used another name or account, bought in person, or described an experience your records don't identify. Platforms generally remove reviews only when their own rules are violated.

This article uses U.S. consumer-protection context. Platform processes can differ by country, marketplace, and account type.

What the U.S. fake-review rule does and does not do

The Federal Trade Commission's Rule on the Use of Consumer Reviews and Testimonials took effect on October 21, 2024. It addresses deceptive conduct involving reviews and testimonials, including selling or creating fake reviews and misrepresenting a reviewer's experience. The FTC says knowing violations may expose violators to civil penalties.

The rule is most relevant when a business, marketer, review broker, or another person creates, buys, or sells deceptive reviews. It doesn't give a business or shopper an automatic right to have a particular post removed from Google, Amazon, Yelp, or Trustpilot. The platform's content and reporting policies control the moderation decision.

That makes the platform's policy the practical starting point. Mention the FTC rule as background when appropriate, but don't use it as a threat in an initial support request. For the legal text and FTC explanations, see the FTC's consumer reviews and testimonials Q&A, the FTC announcement about the rule, and 16 CFR Part 465.

Is the review actually fake?

Separate a warning sign from proof. A moderator can investigate a factual, limited report; an accusation based on a hunch is less useful and could create a separate problem.

Signal What it may indicate What it does not prove
No matching order, appointment, or customer record The reviewer may not have used the product or service That the person definitely never visited or purchased
Generic or copied wording Spam, a script, or coordinated posting That every review with similar wording came from one person
Reviews posted in a sudden burst Possible coordinated activity That the accounts share an IP address
A review discusses an unrelated product or business The reviewer may lack first-hand experience That the reviewer's identity is known
A reviewer asks for money or goods to remove a post Possible extortion That an ordinary negative review is extortion
No verified-purchase label Limited platform verification That the review is fake
A stock image, new account, or few prior reviews A reason to examine the post more closely That the account is fraudulent

Don't claim that reviewers share an IP address unless you have reliable, lawful evidence. Most businesses can't verify that information. Don't publish a reviewer's personal details or repeatedly contact the reviewer.

Evidence to collect before reporting

A moderator needs to find the post and understand the policy issue quickly. Save:

Use precise language. Write, "We found no matching record for the name and date shown," rather than, "This person never visited us." Write, "The same unusual phrase appears in four other reviews," rather than, "This proves a review farm."

How to report a suspicious review by platform

Google

Use Google's review-reporting process from the Business Profile or from the review itself. Select the reason that most closely matches the conduct, such as spam, fake content, conflict of interest, or another accurate policy category. Google's help page says reviews that violate its content policies can be removed and that automated systems also detect spam.

If Google rejects the first report, use the available appeal process instead of filing the same report repeatedly. Google says its appeal evidence form may require supporting material within 60 minutes after you submit the appeal. Prepare the screenshots and links before starting. See Google's guidance to report inappropriate reviews and appeal Business Profile content.

A demand for payment, products, or services in exchange for removing negative reviews should be treated separately from an ordinary bad review. Preserve the messages and use Google's extortion-reporting route linked from its help materials. Don't negotiate with the person or pay for removal.

Amazon

First determine what you're reporting: a product review, seller feedback, a listing problem, or a customer-service dispute. Shoppers should use the report or abuse option shown on the product page. Sellers should use the current product-review or abuse-reporting process in Seller Central.

Include the ASIN, review link or ID, posting date, and the precise reason for concern. Examples include a review that doesn't describe using the product, copied text from unrelated listings, or evidence of a prohibited incentive or coordinated manipulation.

An unverified-purchase label isn't proof that a review is fake. Feedback may come from a purchase made outside the marketplace or from a transaction that can't be matched to the seller's records. Avoid sending unnecessary buyer information or making accusations you can't support.

Yelp

Use the report or flag option attached to the review. If Yelp sends you to a support form, provide the business page, direct review link, review date, displayed reviewer name, and the policy issue.

Business owners should describe the relevant facts without revealing private customer information. A shopper can report content that appears copied, unrelated to first-hand experience, or connected to an incentive or payment demand. Whether Yelp filters a review or leaves it visible doesn't establish whether the review is authentic.

Trustpilot

Use Trustpilot's current reporting process from the company profile or support area. Identify the review URL, the conduct at issue, and the evidence supporting the report.

Trustpilot says its detection systems aren't 100% accurate and that reviews and business replies must follow its content guidelines. An automated system can therefore miss a problematic review, while a business can also be wrong to label every unfavorable review fraudulent. Trustpilot's Action We Take page describes its approach to misuse and enforcement.

Other review sites

Look for a control labeled Report, Flag, Report abuse, or Content violation. Use the site's current help or support page rather than an old email address copied from a forum.

If the site has no clear reporting route, save the content and contact the platform through its legitimate support channel. Avoid a third-party "reputation" service that guarantees deletion. No outside service can honestly promise a platform's moderation decision in advance.

Copy-ready fake-review report and email templates

These drafts work best in an official report form or support ticket. Replace the bracketed text and remove anything you can't prove.

General review-policy report

Subject: Review-policy report for [review URL or ID]

Hello [Platform support team],

Please review this content for [business, product, or company profile]:

The content may violate [platform policy category] because [brief, factual explanation]. For example, [it appears copied from these other reviews / it discusses a product or service the reviewer could not have experienced based on the available facts / it asks for payment to remove the post].

Supporting evidence: [list screenshots, links, records, or messages]. Unnecessary personal information has been redacted.

I understand that a negative opinion isn't automatically a policy violation. Please evaluate the content under the applicable policy and remove it only if your investigation finds a violation.

Thank you,
[Name]
[Contact information]
[Business or account details, if relevant]

Google report or appeal

Subject: Request for review-policy investigation: [Google review link]

Hello Google Support,

I am reporting content associated with [Business Name] at [Business Profile link]. The review appears here: [review link]. It was posted on [date] under the displayed name [name].

The specific concern is [spam or fake content, conflict of interest, extortion, or another accurate category]. The facts supporting the report are [short explanation]. Our records show [careful description of what was and wasn't found], but I understand that this alone may not establish the reviewer's identity.

I have attached or linked [screenshots, copied wording, public profile information, or messages]. Please review the post under Google's applicable content policy. If this is an appeal, the original report reference is [reference number].

Regards,
[Name and role]
[Business Profile link]
[Contact information]

Amazon product-review report

Subject: Suspected product-review policy violation: [ASIN and review ID]

Hello Amazon Support,

Please review this product review:

The specific concern is [the review doesn't describe first-hand use / the wording appears copied from other listings / the review includes a prohibited incentive or demand / another verifiable fact]. Evidence is available here: [links or attachments].

I am not asking Amazon to remove the review merely because it is negative. Please evaluate it under the current Customer Product Reviews policies and let me know if more information is needed.

Thank you,
[Name]
[Seller Central or customer account details, if relevant]

Yelp report

Subject: Policy report for review at [Yelp review link]

Hello Yelp Support,

Please review the following content:

The review may violate [relevant policy category] because [specific, verifiable reason]. Supporting evidence includes [screenshots, matching public text, or other material]. I haven't included unnecessary personal information.

Please investigate the review under Yelp's current content policies.

Regards,
[Name]
[Role, if relevant]
[Contact information]

Trustpilot report

Subject: Review-policy report for [Trustpilot review link]

Hello Trustpilot Support,

I am reporting the review at [link] on [company profile]. It was posted on [date] by [displayed name].

The specific issue is [lack of apparent first-hand experience, copied content, undisclosed incentive, personal information, or another policy concern]. The supporting facts are [brief explanation]. Evidence: [links or attachments].

Please evaluate this content under Trustpilot's current guidelines. I understand that Trustpilot will make its own decision after reviewing the evidence.

Thank you,
[Name]
[Relationship to the company or purchase]
[Contact information]

How to describe a group of suspicious reviews

When several posts appear connected, report each review link and add a short campaign summary:

These reviews were posted between [dates]. They contain the same unusual phrase, image, or product claim: "[short quote]." The related review links are [list]. I am reporting each post separately and asking that the pattern be reviewed for possible coordinated activity. I don't have reliable evidence about the reviewers' IP addresses or identities.

This gives the platform a pattern to examine without overstating what you know.

How to reply publicly without making things worse

A public response shows that the business is paying attention, but it doesn't replace a formal report. Keep the reply brief and move private details away from the public page:

Hi [name], we'd like to look into this, but we can't identify the interaction from the information shown. Please contact us at [private contact channel] with the date and relevant details. For your privacy, please don't post an order number or other personal information here.

Don't call the reviewer a liar, publish customer records, accuse a competitor without evidence, or offer a refund or discount in exchange for deleting the post. If a business offers review incentives, it should check both the platform's rules and the FTC's review requirements first.

If you're a shopper and an account appears to be demanding money or personal information, don't engage with it. Save the messages and report them through the platform's abuse route.

What to do if the platform rejects the report

A rejection doesn't prove that the review is authentic. The platform may not have found a policy violation, may have received unclear evidence, or may have assessed the wrong category.

  1. Save the decision, case number, and date.
  2. Check whether the platform offers an appeal.
  3. Submit new, policy-specific evidence instead of repeating the same accusation.
  4. Correct factual errors in the original report.
  5. Stop filing duplicate reports or encouraging people to mass-report the post.
  6. Use the normal support route again if new evidence appears.

A moderation report doesn't automatically create a refund or cancel a purchase. If suspicious reviews influenced a purchase, handle the return, refund, or billing issue separately with the seller or marketplace. Keep the listing, order, and review records together.

If you have evidence that a business or review broker is buying, selling, or creating fake reviews, consult the FTC materials above and consider advice from a qualified consumer-protection or business attorney. This is general information, not legal advice.

Common questions

Does no verified purchase prove a review is fake?

No. It's one clue, not conclusive evidence. The purchase may have occurred outside the platform, under another account, or through an in-person transaction.

Can I report a fake positive review?

Yes. The concern may involve fabricated praise, undisclosed compensation, a review from someone without first-hand experience, copied content, or coordinated manipulation. A positive rating isn't automatically trustworthy.

Should I email Google, Amazon, Yelp, or Trustpilot?

Use the platform's official report or support process first. Paste a template into a support ticket only when the platform provides that route or asks you to follow up. Avoid random addresses and services promising guaranteed deletion.

Can a platform remove a review just because it's inaccurate?

Not necessarily. Platforms may allow opinions, mistakes, or harsh criticism that don't violate their rules. Focus on conduct the platform can verify, such as spam, copied content, lack of first-hand experience, prohibited incentives, or extortion.

What if the review contains a threat?

Save the original message and report it under the platform's safety, harassment, or extortion category. Don't publish the person's personal information or pay to make the threat disappear. If you believe there's an immediate safety risk, contact local emergency services.