If a review looks fake, don't ask a platform to take it down just because it hurts. Identify the policy violation. Amazon, Google, Yelp, eBay, and Trustpilot each control content on their own services, and the platform's own rules usually decide whether a post comes down.

For U.S. businesses and shoppers, federal rules may apply when a company buys, sells, creates, or deceptively uses fake reviews. Those rules still don't give anyone a general right to erase criticism or force a platform to remove a disputed post.

What counts as a fake review?

A fake review usually misleads readers about who wrote it or whether the reviewer had a real experience. Examples include:

Harsh doesn't equal fake. These facts may deserve a second look, but they don't prove fraud by themselves:

Platforms generally remove reviews for policy violations, not for unfavorable opinions or ordinary factual disputes.

The federal rule that may apply

The FTC's Rule on the Use of Consumer Reviews and Testimonials took effect on October 21, 2024. It addresses deceptive and unfair conduct involving consumer reviews and testimonials, including fake or false reviews and the sale or brokering of fake reviews.

It can matter if a company pays for fabricated reviews, publishes reviews from people who lack the claimed experience, or hides the identity or relationship of a reviewer. FTC staff also has guidance on disclosures for businesses and influencers.

The rule doesn't provide a private right of action. That means a consumer generally can't sue under it alone. It is an enforcement tool for the FTC, not a direct way to have a single review removed.

Read the FTC Consumer Reviews and Testimonials Rule Questions and Answers and the announcement about the final rule for the federal position. State laws, contracts, and other legal claims can use different standards, so a serious dispute may need advice from a licensed attorney.

Gather evidence before you report

A moderator can move faster when the report is narrow and specific. Save the evidence before the review or profile changes.

Collect:

  1. A screenshot showing the full review, reviewer name, date, rating, and business or product page.
  2. The direct link to the review and the listing where it appears.
  3. The review ID, transaction ID, ASIN, order information, or booking details when available.
  4. Records showing that the claimed transaction, appointment, delivery, or visit can't be matched.
  5. Screenshots of substantially identical reviews on other listings.
  6. Messages showing threats, payment demands, or an offer to remove a review.
  7. A short timeline explaining what happened and when.
  8. Any prior case numbers or responses from the platform.

Use only information you're allowed to access. Don't publish a reviewer's address, phone number, workplace, email, or other personal information in a public reply or report unless the platform specifically asks through a secure channel.

Make the report factual and narrow

A strong report ties the post to a rule and points to proof. For example:

This review appears to violate the platform's rule against content unrelated to the listed business. The reviewer describes a transaction with a different location, and the same text appears on two other business pages. Screenshots and links are attached. Please review the post under the applicable policy.

Avoid statements such as "This person is definitely a criminal" unless you have a reliable basis and the platform asks for that information. Moderators need verifiable facts, not speculation about someone's identity or motive.

How to report a fake Amazon review

Amazon reviews can be reported by shoppers and sellers, but the tools may differ by account and marketplace.

If you're a seller

  1. Open the product detail page and save the review link, ASIN, date, title, and reviewer name.
  2. Use the review's Report option or another abuse-reporting choice if it appears.
  3. Sign in to Amazon Seller Central and use the review-policy or support process if you need to send more information.
  4. Identify the suspected violation, such as copied content, promotional material, a wrong product, or review manipulation.
  5. Add concise evidence, including matching text, transaction records, or messages involving threats or payment demands.
  6. Save the case number and any response before following up.

No order ID? That alone doesn't prove fraud. A review may lack a verified-purchase label and still reflect a real experience. A verified-purchase label also doesn't guarantee every statement in the review is accurate.

If the review raises a legitimate product safety or quality issue, use the appropriate customer-service, returns, or product-safety process too. Reporting a real complaint as fake won't solve the underlying problem.

Don't offer a refund, replacement, discount, or other compensation in exchange for deleting or changing a review. Resolve legitimate service issues through normal support without pressuring the customer about the review.

If you're a shopper

Use the report option attached to the review on the product page. Explain why the post appears to violate Amazon's review rules, such as being copied, promotional, unrelated to the product, or part of an apparent manipulation campaign.

If your concern is that the product is unsafe, counterfeit, materially different from its description, or never arrived, use Amazon's order, return, refund, or safety-reporting channels too. A review report doesn't replace a claim about the purchase itself.

How to dispute a fake Google review

Google reviews are managed through Google Maps and Google Business Profile tools. Google generally removes reviews that violate its content policies, not reviews that are merely unfair or unflattering.

  1. Save the review's text, date, profile name, listing URL, and screenshots.
  2. Open the review in Google Maps or the Business Profile management interface.
  3. Select the flag, menu, or Report review option.
  4. Choose the closest policy category, such as spam, conflict of interest, harassment, personal information, or content about the wrong place.
  5. Explain the specific evidence in a few sentences.
  6. Check the review status in the Business Profile support or review-management area.
  7. If Google provides an appeal option, submit one focused appeal with new or clearer evidence.

A business can also post a professional public response while the report is pending. Keep it short and avoid confirming private customer details. For example:

We're sorry this was your experience. We can't match the details in this post to a customer record, but we'd like to investigate. Please contact us through the support address on our profile with the date and order details.

If someone demands money or goods to stop posting negative reviews, preserve the messages and report the conduct to Google through its support channels. Don't pay merely to make the posts disappear.

Google doesn't publish a universal removal deadline or guarantee that a flagged review will be removed. Repeatedly flagging the same post, creating new accounts, or encouraging others to mass-report it can make the case less credible.

How to report a fake Yelp review

Yelp lets businesses manage their pages through Yelp for Business. Shoppers can also use the reporting option associated with a review.

  1. Save the review, profile, date, and page URL.
  2. Sign in to the business account if you manage the listing.
  3. Use the review menu or reporting option.
  4. Select the policy reason that best fits the evidence.
  5. Describe the problem factually, such as a wrong business, copied text, advertising, or a clear conflict of interest.
  6. Respond publicly only if a response will help customers understand the situation.

Yelp's recommendation software can filter a review without deciding that the reviewer intentionally committed fraud. A business also can't demand removal simply because it dislikes the rating.

Don't identify or attack the reviewer in your response. Avoid publishing order numbers, medical information, employment details, or other private facts. Yelp's interface and review process may change, so use the reporting options shown in your current business account.

How to dispute eBay feedback and product reviews

eBay commonly calls transaction comments feedback, while product reviews may follow separate rules. Start by identifying which type of content you're challenging.

  1. Save the transaction ID, feedback link, buyer profile, date, and related messages.
  2. Use the feedback-reporting or removal option in Seller Hub, or the eBay Resolution Center when that route is provided.
  3. Select a specific violation, such as feedback extortion, threats, prohibited content, or comments unrelated to the transaction.
  4. Include messages showing that a buyer demanded money, a refund, or another benefit in exchange for changing feedback.
  5. Keep the case number and response.

A legitimate complaint about shipping, item condition, or communication may remain even if the seller disagrees with it. A product review also may not be removable through the same process as seller feedback.

How to report a suspicious Trustpilot review

Businesses can report suspicious content through their Trustpilot business account or dashboard. Consumers should use the report option attached to the review.

Include:

Trustpilot says reviews and business replies must follow its guidelines and that its detection systems may not identify every problem correctly. The platform may ask for information verifying the reviewer's experience. There's no guaranteed removal time or outcome.

Read Trustpilot's explanation of the action it takes for its stated approach to suspicious activity and guideline violations.

Facebook, Etsy, TripAdvisor, and app stores

The same evidence principles apply on other services:

Menus vary by country, account type, and platform version. If a report form asks for a policy category, choose the narrowest accurate reason instead of selecting fake merely because the review is negative.

What to do if the platform rejects the report

A rejection doesn't necessarily mean the review is true. It may mean the platform didn't find enough evidence of a policy violation or that the dispute concerns accuracy rather than prohibited content.

Take these steps:

  1. Read the platform's explanation and identify what evidence was missing.
  2. Check whether the platform offers an appeal or review-status tool.
  3. Submit a single focused appeal with new evidence, not the same text repeated several times.
  4. Include the original case number and links to the relevant review.
  5. Ask for review under the exact policy category that applies.
  6. Keep serving genuine customers normally while the dispute is pending.

If the conduct involves a business buying or selling fake reviews, report the commercial activity through the FTC's consumer complaint process in the United States. The FTC can investigate or take enforcement action, but it doesn't function as a guaranteed takedown service for an individual review.

For threats, identity theft, payment fraud, or coordinated harassment, preserve the original messages and consider reporting the conduct to the appropriate law-enforcement agency. A defamation claim or other court remedy depends on the facts, state law, and the difference between a verifiable false statement and an opinion.

Public responses that don't make matters worse

A public response isn't a substitute for a policy report, but it can reassure people who read the review later.

Do:

Don't:

Prevent fake-review problems without manipulating reviews

Businesses can reduce confusion and regulatory risk by using a consistent, neutral review process:

For shoppers, treat review patterns as a signal rather than a verdict. Read recent and critical reviews, compare details across sources, check whether complaints concern the product or the seller, and look for a clear refund or warranty policy before buying.

Frequently asked questions

Can a business remove a genuine negative review?

Usually not through a fake-review report. A genuine review may remain even if the business believes it's unfair, exaggerated, or based on a misunderstanding. The strongest report identifies a platform-rule violation, not just a disagreement.

Is a missing verified-purchase label proof that an Amazon review is fake?

No. It can be relevant evidence, but it isn't conclusive. Explain the full pattern, such as copied language, a wrong product, or messages showing manipulation.

Are AI-generated reviews automatically illegal or removable?

No. The key issue is whether the review falsely appears to come from a real customer or misrepresents the reviewer's experience. AI detection can help identify patterns, but it can also produce false positives.

How long does a fake review take to come down?

There's no universal deadline. Timing depends on the platform, the type of report, the evidence, and whether an appeal or additional verification is needed. Treat any service promising guaranteed removal or a fixed turnaround as a warning sign.

Should I contact the reviewer before reporting the post?

Avoid pressuring the reviewer, offering compensation for deletion, or debating the review publicly. If the complaint may be genuine, address the underlying customer-service issue through the normal support channel.

Can the FTC remove a review for me?

No. The FTC rule addresses deceptive commercial conduct and doesn't create a private right of action or a guaranteed platform takedown. Report the review to the service hosting it, and report broader buying, selling, or coordinated use of fake reviews to the FTC when appropriate.

Before you file anything

Save the review's URL, full text, date, and a screenshot while it's still visible. Then match the post to one specific policy violation. A narrow report with proof is more useful than several angry flags.