In this article · 5 sections
Reviews drive bookings for taxis, hotels, clinics and shops. That makes fake reviews tempting and harmful. Here's how fake reviews are viewed under Indian law and platform rules.
Buying fake positive reviews
- Consumer Protection Act, 2019 prohibits unfair trade practices and misleading advertisements; fake reviews can mislead consumers
- The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has issued guidelines on misleading advertisements and dark patterns
- IS 19000:2022, a Bureau of Indian Standards standard for online consumer reviews, sets principles for collecting, moderating and publishing genuine reviews
- Google, Meta and marketplaces remove fake reviews and can restrict or suspend listings
It's simply not worth the risk. See genuine reviews for e-commerce.
Fake negative reviews against you
- Check: Is it a real customer with a bad experience, a competitor, or a spammer?
- Reply professionally either way. See replying to negative reviews
- Report through the platform (Google Maps: "Report review"; Business Profile: review management tool)
- Provide evidence of policy violations: no record of the customer, conflict of interest, spam patterns, offensive content
- Escalate: for serious false allegations, see removing defamatory content
Getting genuine reviews instead
- Ask every happy customer with a direct review link
- Don't offer incentives for positive reviews
- Respond to all reviews
See how to get more Google reviews.
On your own website
Display only genuine reviews, don't edit them to change meaning, and don't hide all negative ones. If you embed Google reviews, keep them updated.
FAQs
Can a competitor be punished for fake reviews?
Possibly through consumer complaints or legal action, with evidence. Platform reports are the practical first step.
Is review gating (only asking happy customers) allowed?
Google's policies discourage selectively soliciting positive reviews.
This article is general information, not legal advice.
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