From the reel: Fake one-star reviews, then "pay us"

Fake reviews and a "pay us" message: what to do in the first hour

A wave of one-star reviews, then a message saying pay and they go away. Here's the plan for the first hour, so you act fast without making it worse.

The first 10 minutes

Don't pay, and don't reply to the message
Paying marks you as someone who pays. Replying tells them the number is live.
Don't reply to the reviews yet
An angry reply stays up even after the fake review is removed.
Screenshot everything
The message with the sender's number and the date showing, and every fake review with the reviewer's name and date.

Save a link to every fake review
In Google Maps, open the review, press share, copy the link. Paste them all into one note.
Report it to Google
Google has a form just for review extortion on your Business Profile. Use it, and attach your screenshots.
Report the sender
Block and report the number in WhatsApp or wherever the message came from.

Tell your team
Nobody pays, replies or argues online. One person handles it.
Still stuck? Get help
The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (asbfeo.gov.au) helps with disputes with online platforms.
Then, over the next weeks
Keep asking happy customers for reviews. A steady flow of real ones means a few fakes don't define you.

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