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A month ago, Digital Phablet shared that Google introduced a new form to report negative review extortion scams on Google Business Profiles and local listings. They also provided some tips on managing these extortion attempts. Recently, reports from local SEO professionals indicate that this form is effective, with Google removing the problematic reviews.
In a discussion on the Local Search Forum, a local SEO expert sought advice after being targeted by this extortion method. They used the new reporting form and later confirmed that all the fake one-star reviews had been removed, and the extortionist had not received any payment. They credited the success to the new “extortion report” feature.
The expert offered some insights for others facing similar issues:
– Contrary to some advice online, it’s often better not to respond publicly to fake reviews initially. Responding might alert the scammer that you’ve seen the review, encouraging them to offer to “help remove” it, which can be a ploy for further extortion.
– When using the extortion reporting tool, you’ll need to submit evidence such as emails or direct messages. This requires engaging with the attacker enough to gather proof of extortion, which may involve them asking for payment in exchange for removing reviews. Sharing this evidence makes the attacker aware that you’re willing to pay, which could complicate the situation. However, because the attacker is in a hurry to get paid—knowing that usual spam reviews are typically removed within 48 hours—they might be less cautious about jumping at quick payment offers.
If you’re experiencing this form of extortion, trying out the reporting form might help resolve the issue.
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