Bad Google reviews are brutal. One fake comment from a random account and your rating drops. Suddenly your business looks suspicious, even when you’ve done nothing wrong.
If you’re asking how to get rid of one of these reviews, you’re not alone. Thousands of business owners deal with this every day. And most of them hit the same wall: Google won’t remove the review, even when it’s clearly fake.
So the real question is, what can you actually do about it?
Let’s walk through it step by step.
Why Do Fake Reviews Hurt So Much?
Google reviews are public. They show up in search results. They influence trust before someone even clicks on your website.
A study by ReviewTrackers found that over 63% of people check Google reviews before choosing a local business. That one-star review you’re staring at? It’s scaring off new customers right now.
And if it’s fake, that’s even worse. It means your hard work is being attacked by someone who never walked through your door.
Can You Delete the Review Yourself?
Unfortunately, no.
If you’re the business owner, you can’t delete someone else’s review. You can report it. You can respond to it. But you can’t press a button and make it disappear.
Google only removes reviews that break its rules. That’s where the process gets tricky.
The only time you can actually remove a review is when you wrote it. If you’re a user and want to know how to delete Google reviews you’ve posted, it’s simple:
- Go to Google Maps or Google Search
- Tap your profile icon
- Choose “Your contributions”
- Tap “Reviews”
- Find the review
- Tap the three dots and hit “Delete”
Easy. But most of the time, you’re trying to remove a review written by someone else. And that’s a whole different process.
What Counts as a Removable Review?
Google reviews must follow strict content guidelines. Here’s what makes a review eligible for removal:
- Spam or fake content
- Conflict of interest (like a competitor posting)
- Hate speech or offensive language
- Irrelevant or off-topic info
- Harassment or threats
If the review breaks one or more of these rules, you’ve got a shot at getting it removed.
How to Report a Google Review
Here’s what to do if you think a review should be taken down.
Step-by-step instructions:
- Open your Google Business Profile
- Go to the “Reviews” tab
- Find the review that’s fake
- Click the three dots next to it
- Select “Report review”
- Choose the right reason
- Submit
After that, it’s a waiting game. Sometimes Google acts fast. Other times, nothing happens at all.
Want to Try Again? Use the Violation Form
If reporting through your dashboard didn’t work, you can use Google’s Policy Violation Form.
This form gives you a second chance to explain why the review is fake or unfair. You can link to the review, explain your side, and submit proof if needed.
You won’t always get a reply. But it increases your chances of getting someone at Google to actually look at the case.
Respond to the Review While You Wait
Even if you think it’s fake, reply to it.
This shows Google that you’re active. It also helps future customers who are reading your reviews.
Keep your reply short and calm. Something like:
“Hi, we take all feedback seriously, but we can’t find any record of you using our service. If you’d like to reach out directly, we’d love to help.”
Now readers know you’re not ignoring complaints, and you’ve called out the review without sounding aggressive.
What If Google Still Won’t Remove It?
This happens a lot. Even clear fake reviews sometimes stay up. That’s when it makes sense to get help from a professional review removal service.
One of the best known options is Reputation Galaxy. They specialize in getting fake or unfair reviews removed. But they don’t just click “report.” They investigate the reviewer, gather proof, and build a case that actually works.
One small business owner in Denver said, “We had two fake reviews that came in from the same person using different accounts. Reputation Galaxy tracked them both and had screenshots showing the pattern. Both were removed within a week.”
That’s the kind of result most people want. Fast, focused, and effective.
How Much Does It Cost?
Hiring a review removal service isn’t free, but it can be worth it.
Here’s a quick breakdown:
| Type of Service | Price Range |
| Per Review Removal | $300 – $750 |
| Full Reputation Package | $1,000+ |
| Monthly Monitoring Plans | $500 – $1500 |
Avoid any company that promises “instant deletion” or “100% guaranteed removals.” That’s not how it works. Real services use legit methods and communicate with Google the right way.
Can You Prevent Fake Reviews in the Future?
Not completely. But you can make your profile stronger.
Here’s how:
- Ask real customers to leave honest reviews
- Set up automatic review requests after appointments or sales
- Monitor reviews weekly so you can act fast
- Reply to all reviews, not just the bad ones
If you keep your review flow steady, one or two fake ones won’t cause as much damage.
Final Thoughts
Fake Google reviews are frustrating. They’re unfair. And they can cost you real business.
While you can’t delete them yourself, you can report them, respond to them, and in some cases, get them removed.
If the usual steps don’t work, a review removal service like Reputation Galaxy can step in and help. They know how to work with Google’s system and push for real action.
So if you’re stuck, don’t panic. Take the right steps. Build your case. And protect the reputation you’ve worked hard to earn.
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