Spotting reviews from non-customers
Check reviewer history for review storms across unrelated cities, generic text copied between businesses, and posting dates clustered in one hour.
A dental clinic in Toronto found twelve one-star reviews from accounts created the same day with stock avatar photos and no Local Guide history.
Policy angles Google accepts
Conflict of interest, off-topic rant, and spam reports each map to different form fields. Pick the wrong category and auto-rejection follows.
POS logs, appointment systems, and payment processor records help prove no transaction occurred. Screenshots alone rarely suffice for Google.
Escalation tips
Batch similar fake reviews in one support case with a comparison chart rather than filing forty identical one-off forms.
Erasiq Google Review Removal handles evidence formatting and resubmission. Book a free consultation if auto-replies keep saying the review stays.