Fake Review Watch

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Fake Review Watch

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Fake Review Watch in the News

Buyer beware: Fake online reviews

September 4, 2023 story by Keely Arthur for WRAL TV in Raleigh, North Carolina.  Consumer Reports provided this information to media outlets across the country about the prevalence of fake online reviews and tips on how to spot them.  Includes an interview with Kay Dean.

Go to WRAL TV

Fake Reviews Are Fastest Growing Black Market in US, Says Federal Trade Commission

August 8, 2023 story by Alice Giordano for the Epoch Times.  The FTC is proposing a rule to crack down on fake reviews, but the measure will not hold third-party review platforms such as Facebook, Yelp, and Google accountable.  Includes commentary from Kay Dean. 

Go to the Epoch Times

FTC cracks down on fake reviews

July 3, 2023 story by Tom Zizka for Fox 26 Houston.  Kay Dean provides expert analysis in this story on the proposed FTC rule banning fake online reviews and the fact that it will not apply to review sites themselves. 

Go to Fox 26 Houston

Frommer's Podcast: Online Review Fraud

July 2, 2023 interview with Pauline Frommer.  Pauline Frommer discusses fake online reviews and the travel industry with Kay Dean.  See podcast episode S1E502, the second interview.

Go to Frommer's Podcast

Those 10,000 5-star reviews are fake. Now they'll also be illegal.

June 30, 2023 story by Geoffrey A. Fowler for the Washington Post.  Report on the proposed rule by the FTC to ban fake reviews, highlighting that it won't apply to the review sites.  Includes an interview with Kay Dean.

Go to the Washington Post

FTC proposes fines for fake online reviews

June 30, 2023 story by Jennifer Williams for Fox 5 New York.  Report on the proposed rule by the FTC to ban fake reviews.  Includes an interview with Kay Dean.

Go to Fox 5 New York

This Bay Area woman is on a crusade to prove Yelp reviews can’t be trusted

June 14, 2023 story by Stephen Council for SFGATE.  A profile of Kay Dean, the story discusses how Dean started investigating fake reviews and launched Fake Review Watch.  The focus is on review fraud on Yelp.

Go to SFGATE

Who's to blame for fake review fraud: bad business, big tech, or both?

March 28, 2023 story by Darcy Spears for KTNV-TV Las Vegas.  In a follow-up to Part I on fake reviews for a Las Vegas pool builder, Part II of this story focuses on the culpability of Yelp and other tech companies for the proliferation of fake online reviews.  Based on Fake Review Watch research and includes an interview with Kay Dean.

Go to KTNV-TV Las Vegas

Five Star Fraud: Greencare Pool Builder's customers duped by fake reviews

March 27, 2023 story by Darcy Spears for KTNV-TV Las Vegas.  Part I of this two-part piece exposes fake Yelp, Google, and Facebook reviews for a Las Vegas pool builder.  Based on Fake Review Watch research, and includes an interview with Kay Dean.  Yelp removed over 200 previously recommended reviews for the business after being contacted by Spears.

Go to KTNV-TV Las Vegas

Fake Online Reviews: Can their growth be curbed?

February 24, 2023 article in CQ Researcher by Kathleen Day.  Scholarly, thoroughly researched article on the scope of the fake review problem (perhaps 45% of reviews are fake!), the legal and regulatory challenges, and the reforms needed.  The piece opens with research by Kay Dean on fake 5-star Yelp reviews for a California contractor.

Go to CQ Researcher

Oslo restaurant reviews get reactions

December 1, 2022 story by Nils Ragnar Lovhaug for Norweigian TV2 Helper in Oslo.  Based on initial Fake Review Watch research, TV2 Helper investigated fake reviews for three Oslo restaurants with the same owner.  Includes comments from Kay Dean.

Go to TV2 Oslo

Up to 30% of online reviews are fake and most consumers can't tell the difference

November 1, 2022 story by Bettie Cross for CBS Austin, Texas.  Consumers rely heavily on online reviews, but many of those reviews are fake.  Includes an interview with Kay Dean.

Go to CBS Austin

Five Star Fakes: Small business owners feel big impact from fake online reviews

October 17, 2022 InvestigateTV story by Rachel DePompa and Daniela Molina.  Report centered on FRW research into fake negative reviews for a Washington real estate agent.  Includes an interview with Kay Dean.

Go to InvestigateTV

Fake Amazon reviews more prevalent than you think

October 11, 2022 story on CTV News Toronto by Pat Foran.  Report focuses on fake Amazon product reviews, but includes discussion of fake business reviews.  Includes an interview with Kay Dean.

Go to CTV News Toronto

Doctors Using Fake Positive Reviews to Boost Business

August 17, 2022 story on Medscape by Frankie Rowland.  Report on Fake Review Watch research into the problem of doctors procuring fake positive reviews.  Includes an interview with Kay Dean.

Go to Medscape

Warning over 'fake' Google reviews

August 8, 2022 story on Australia's A Current Affair by Sam Cucchiara.  Report on Fake Review Watch research into a Melbourne dentist receiving fake Google reviews.  Includes an interview with the dentist, and with Kay Dean.

Go to A Current Affair

How to spot a fake online review

August 1, 2022 article on Axios by Emily Peck.  Advice by experts on how to spot fake online reviews, including Kay Dean's advice to stick with getting reviews from REAL people, not virtual ones.

Go to Axios

Choosing a new doctor? Beware of fake rave reviews

July 21, 2022 story on NBC Today by Kate Snow, Brenda Breslauer, Yasmine Salam, and A. Pawlowski.  NBC's Today takes on fake reviews for doctors, and uses Fake Review Watch research on Los Angeles dentist Dr. Mansour Zakhor as a case study.  Includes an interview with Kay Dean.

Go to NBC Today

Watchdog warns fake online reviews are duping consumers

July 20, 2022 story on Fox 26 in Houston by Heather Sullivan.  Fake Review Watch research is the foundation of this story on the problem of fake reviews, both positive and negative.  Fake positive Google reviews for two Houston area dentists are highlighted.  Includes an interview with Kay Dean.

Go to Fox 26 Houston

Scammers flood restaurants with one star reviews

July 14, 2022 story on Australian ABC Radio by Luke Siddham Dundon.  A negative fake review campaign targeted restaurants from San Francisco to Chicago in July, concerning small business owners worldwide.  Includes an interview with Kay Dean.

Go to ABC Radio

Local restaurant falls victim to alleged fake review ambush

July 8, 2022 story in Bradford Today by Natasha Philpott.  A small town Ontario restaurant gets review bombed with apparently fake negative reviews on Google, Yelp, Tripadvisor, and Facebook, creating major headaches for the owner.  Kay Dean is interviewed as an expert.

Go to Bradford Today

Inside the War on Fake Consumer Reviews

July 6, 2022 story in Time by Megan McCluskey explains the enormous problem of fake online reviews across numerous platforms.  Highlights Kay Dean's efforts with Fake Review Watch to inform the public of the problem.

Go to Time

Fake reviews becoming more common and harder to identify on Melbourne business sites

July 6, 2022 story on 9 News Melbourne, Australia, by Allanah Sciberras.  Fake Google reviews for a Melbourne dentist and a Preston painter are highlighted in this piece.  The research for this story was conducted by Kay Dean, who is also interviewed.

Go to 9 News Melbourne

Is that online review real? Don't count on tech firms to inform you about fakes

Op-Ed by Kathryn Dean published in the Toronto Star on June 20, 2022.  Fake Google and Facebook reviews for a Toronto dentist highlight the problem:  Don't count on the tech companies to police their reviews and inform consumers about fakes.

Go to Toronto Star Op-Ed

Five Star Fakes: Fake online reviews cheating businesses and consumers

June 20, 2022 InvestigateTV story by Rachel DePompa and Daniela Molina.   Fake online reviews for both products and businesses are a serious problem.  Includes discussion of fake reviews on various platforms, and the use of Facebook as a marketplace for fake reviews.  Includes an interview with Kay Dean.

Go to InvestigateTV

Positive reviews online? They may be fakes

June 15, 2022 story on CTV News Toronto by Pat Foran.   CTV News uses Fake Review Watch research to expose a Toronto dental practice receiving fake Google and Facebook reviews.

Go to CTV News Toronto

'A complete nightmare': Tampa cigar shop plagued by fake Google reviews

May 27, 2022 story on Fox 13 TV Tampa Bay by Kellie Cowan.   A Tampa cigar shop owner deals with the problem of fake negative Google reviews and Google's unresponsiveness.  Kay Dean is interviewed as an expert.

Go to Fox 13 Tampa Bay

Norwegians are abused: Shocked by the amount of cheating on Google, Trustpilot, and Tripadvisor

May 12, 2022 article accompanying TV story on Norwegian TV 2 by Nils Ragnar Lovhaug.   Fake reviews aren't just a U.S. problem.  Norwegian TV 2 takes an in-depth look at the various facets of the fake review problem.  Kay Dean is interviewed as an expert and was a contributor to the story.  (Use Google translator to read).

Go to Norwegian TV 2

How to avoid falling for fake online reviews of healthcare providers

May 7, 2022 article on Clear Health Costs by Mary Steffenhagen.  Many Americans use online review sites to find healthcare providers, but there's a huge problem with that:  An untold number of online reviews on these sites are fraudulent.  Fake Review Watch research contributed to this story.

Go to Clear Health Costs

The Trusted Yelp 'Elite' Reviewers Who Sell Their Reviews for Cash

April 26, 2022 article on Vice News' Motherboard by Joseph Cox.  Yelp “Elite” reviewers are verified members of the site who are supposed to be more trustworthy than ordinary users. Some of them are selling their reviews to businesses around the country.  Article based on Fake Review Watch research and sources.

Go to Vice News

Kay Dean: Fighting the Scourge of Fake Online Reviews

March 1, 2022 article on trustsignals.com by Scott Baradell.   Given the importance of online reviews to consumers today, the prevalence of fake reviews is a serious problem.  Interview with Kay Dean of Fake Review Watch.

Go to Trust Signals Article

Yelp Elites and Others Paid for Fake Reviews in Plain Sight

February 18, 2022 article on NBC Bay Area by Chris Chmura, Alyssa Goard, Mark Villarreal, and Jeremy Carroll.   NBC Bay Area reports on the problem of fake Yelp Elite reviews using Fake Review Watch investigation and sources.

Go to NBC Bay Area Article

Millions of those 5-star online reviews are fake; Here's how to spot them

February 14, 2022 WTHR Indianapolis news article by Bob Segall.  Fake Review Watch investigation forms the basis of this in-depth piece highlighting the fake Facebook and Google reviews for Indiana pediatric dental practice Smiling Kids. 

Go to WTHR 13 Article

A fight between cosmetic surgeons reveals online reviews may only be skin deep

December 5, 2021 article on Mashable by Natasha Pinon.   Fake Review Watch reporting forms the basis for a Mashable report on fake reviews for cosmetic surgeons Simon Ourian of Beverly Hills and Adam Rubinstein of Miami. 

Go to Mashable Article

How to Spot Fake Reviews

October 12, 2021 SRF (Switzerland) news article.   Research by SRF Data has shown that falsifications of ratings and reviews on Google Maps are widespread - also in Switzerland. How do you know if it's a trustworthy review? Former American federal detective and fake rating specialist Kay Dean worked with SRF Data to collect useful tips. 

Go to Swiss Radio and Television

Part II: Fake Online Dental Reviews and Public Deception

August 30, 2021 article on dentaleconomics.com.  In his second article about fake online reviews, Dr. Michael Davis talked with Kay Dean of Fake Review Watch about the fake review problem, the role of the tech companies and review sites, and what needs to be done.

Go to dentaleconomics.com

Part I: Fake Online Dental Patient Reviews: Are You a Victim?

July 22, 2021 article by Michael W. Davis, DDS, on dentaleconomics.com.   Increasingly, online reviews on dental practice websites and social media have become a vital element in the mix of practice marketing. People often access these consumer reviews when they’re trying to find a dental provider. The question becomes, can these reviews be trusted? The answer too frequently is a resounding "No!" according to Kay Dean of Fake Review Watch.

Go to dentaleconomics.com

Google's Negligence on Fake Reviews Another Reason for Action against Big Tech

Op-Ed by Kathryn Dean published 06/07/21 in the Toronto Star.  Google and other tech companies are not serious about cleaning up fake review fraud.  It's time for action to rein in Big Tech.

Go to Toronto star op-ed

Fake Review Watch in Washington Post Story on Fake Medical Reviews

Fake Review Watch research formed the basis of a 06/04/21 Washington Post article on fake medical reviews.  The story highlights fake Google and Trustpilot reviews for The Center, A Place of Hope, a mental illness and addiction treatment facility in Edmonds, Washington.  The research is contained in the FRW video, Bangladeshi Facebook Group Fakes Google and Trustpilot Reviews for US Businesses.

Go to Washington Post Article

Black market in Google reviews means you can't believe everything you read

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation conducted an investigation based on Fake Review Watch information contained in the video U.S. and Canadian Fake Google Review Network.  The network contains over 1200 businesses throughout North America that are obtaining fake Google reviews.

Go to CBC Article

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.."

Go to Trustpilot

Why Fake Reviews Matter

     Probably no other form of online fraud affects more people than fake online reviews. Twenty-first century consumers rely heavily on online reviews in making purchasing decisions.  Surveys such as a 2018 Pew study found that 93 percent of U.S. adults use online reviews and ratings when buying something for the first time, and 88 percent say online reviews and ratings make them feel confident about their purchasing decisions.   
    Fraudulent reviews are more deceptive and harmful than other forms of false advertising because consumers believe they are written by legitimate, unbiased customers.  Businesses across all professions—including doctors, dentists, and lawyers—are actively deceiving their very clients through fake online reviews. The ramifications of fake reviews can be severe.    
    Fraudulent reviews constitute unfair or deceptive acts or practices that impact commerce in violation of Section 5(a) of the Federal Trade Commission Act. Soliciting for, selling, or writing fake reviews also violates the community standards of many review platforms, including Facebook, Google and Amazon.   

    According to FTC Commissioners Rohit Chopra and Rebecca Kelly Slaughter, “ Fake reviews distort our markets by rewarding bad actors and harming honest companies.  The problem is growing, and the Federal Trade Commission should attack it.”   

Online Reviews Are the Wild West, and There's No Sheriff

Op-Ed on Medium by Kathryn Dean.  The massive problem of fake online reviews and what needs to be done about it.

Go to Mediuim Op-Ed

In CalMatters: California Agencies Are Not Protecting Consumers

Op-ed in CalMatters by Kathryn Dean.  A psychiatric practice fakes reviews, fakes awards, fakes being a lawyer, and defrauds people.  What do the Santa Clara County DA, the California Medical Board, and the State Bar do about it?  NOTHING.

Go to CalMatters Op-Ed

In Medical Justice Blog: Doctors Faking Online Reviews a Serious Problem

Some unethical doctors use online marketers to obtain fake consumer reviews.  In one case, a Bangladeshi fake review broker arranges fake Google and Trustpilot reviews for US medical practices.  Other doctors trade for fake reviews in Facebook review exchange groups.  Blog post by Kathryn Dean.

Go to Medical Justice Blog

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