Method 1: Report the Review from Your Google Business Profile
Go to your Google Business Profile
Find the review
Click the three dots
Click Report Review
Choose the violation type
Common reporting categories include:
Spam or fake review
Conflict of interest (competitor)
Profanity
Harassment
Discrimination
Personal information
Off-topic content
In many cases, reporting the review as Off Topic can work if it doesn't match other categories.
Method 2: Use Google's Review Management Tool
Google has a dedicated tool for managing reviews.
Steps:
Visit Google's Review Management Tool
Select your business
Click Report a New Review
Choose the review
Submit your report
Method 3: Submit an Appeal
If Google rejects your report, you can appeal.
Steps:
Go back to the Review Management Tool
Select Check the Status of a Review
Find the rejected review
Click Submit an Appeal
Provide additional context and evidence
Include information such as:
The reviewer was not a customer
The review is from a competitor
The review is spam
Method 4: Contact the Customer
The only guaranteed way to remove a review is for the reviewer to remove it themselves.
You can:
Contact the customer
Resolve the issue
Send them the review link
Ask them to edit or delete the review
Method 5: Ask the Google Business Profile Community
You can also post in the Google Business Profile support forum.
Steps:
Visit the Google Business Profile Community
Create a post
Include your case ID
Explain the situation
Moderators may help escalate the request.
Bonus Tip: Check if the Review is Fake
To investigate:
Click the reviewer’s profile
Check their review history
Look for suspicious behavior such as:
Only one review
Reviews across many countries
Recently created accounts
Important Note
A perfect rating isn't always best.
Research shows that 4.8 stars is the most trusted rating, and responding professionally to negative reviews builds trust with customers.