Time Magazine: Inside the War on Fake Consumer Reviews
Features research by and interview with Fake Review Watch's Kay Dean
Visit our research library on our youtube channel!
More Yelp Elite Corruption Via Instagram
Online marketers use Instagram to recruit Yelp Elites to post fake reviews for cash. In a Fake Review Watch exclusive, a Yelp Elite provides details of how this goes down on Instagram. We then examine other Yelp Elites the same marketer is following on Instagram.
Network of Google Profiles Faking Reviews for Dentists
Hello, Google, anyone home? A network of Google profiles is providing fake reviews for businesses, including dentists in Texas and Washington. Mason Park Dental in Katy, Texas, Dentist Tree in Houston and Cypress, and dentist Dr. Addie Chang in Tukwila, Washington, are all receiving 5-star reviews from this network. However, Dr. Bill Pope, a pediatric dentist in McAllen, Texas, is getting review bombed with 1-star reviews from this same network.
Review Seller Brazenly Posts His Fake Yelp Profiles on Facebook
A review seller on Facebook advertises that he has Yelp reviews for reasonable prices and posts a couple of his Yelp profiles for all to see. Following the trail, we find fake reviews for a Bay Area contractor, Serenity Remodeling, and other businesses. Yelp recommends these reviews as trustworthy. So much for Yelp's highly touted recommendation software.
Facebook Facilitating Fake Reviews for Pediatric Dentist
Smiling Kids Pediatric Dentistry in Indianapolis is receiving fake Facebook recommendations and Google reviews. A ring of offshore review providers operating in a Facebook group appears to be behind the reviews.
Fake Google Reviews a Global Problem
The worldwide ocean of Google reviews is rife with pollution. A New Jersey medical clinic, a German software company, an art gallery in Dubai, a UK flooring and furniture company, and a Pakistani logistics service, among other businesses, are receiving Google reviews from the same profiles. Some of these profiles are even using lifted photos of Hollywood figures as their profile pictures.
U.S. and Canadian Fake Google Review Network
This Fake Review Watch video formed the basis of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's investigation into a North American fake review network. This network is faking Google reviews for over 1200 businesses. A disturbing number of U.S. medical, mental health, and dental practices appear to be part of this network. The CBC story was released on May 24, 2021.
Bangladeshi Facebook Group Fakes Google & Trustpilot Reviews for U.S. Businesses
U.S. businesses use a Bangladeshi Facebook group to post fake Google and Trustpilot reviews. Businesses faking include The Center: A Place of Hope, a mental health facility in Edmonds, Washington; Southern California Pain Consultants in Torrance; and Rheumatology Therapeutics Medical Center in Los Angeles.
TrustPilot Takes Action Based on Fake Review Watch Video
Fake Review Watch's video Bangladeshi Facebook Group Fakes Google and Trustpilot Reviews for US Businesses prompted Trustpilot to slap a warning on its site for The Center: A Place of Hope, a mental health treatment facility in Edmonds, Washington. The warning states that Trustpilot has "detected a number of fake reviews for this company."
Yelp's Corrupt Elite Program
Yelp's Elite program is corrupted with members who sell fake reviews. There is a black market for Yelp Elite reviews in Facebook review exchange groups. We point out 8 Yelp Elite reviewers who are faking reviews for southern California contractors.
Yelp Hides Surgeon's Fake Review Fraud from Consumers
Torrance Hernia Center, a surgery center in southern California, is faking its Yelp reviews, but Yelp hides this information from consumers.
See How Multiple Review Sites Are Gamed
Don't trust any online review site. This is a case study in how one contractor games multiple review sites. LA Green Development, a solar and roofing company in Los Angeles, is faking reviews on Yelp, Google, Facebook, Buildzoom, Houzz, Porch, the Better Business Bureau, and Angie's List.
Exposing Google Review Fraud
Google is riddled with fake consumer reviews. Thousands of fake Google reviews are arranged via Facebook review exchange groups. Google does far too little to clean up the fraud.
Who We Are
Our Purpose
Our Purpose
Fake Review Watch is run by Kay Dean, a former federal fraud investigator, who has conducted an in depth investigation over four years into fake reviews on Yelp, Google, Facebook, and other review sites.
Our Purpose
Our Purpose
Our Purpose
We're looking out for consumers who are being deceived by big tech and dishonest businesses.