Alert : Fake negative review blackmail – how to protect your reputation and avoid extortion

Recently, professionals have been reporting a reputation-focused scam: individuals claim they can post (or remove) negative reviews in exchange for payment.
Stay alert: here’s how to spot it and avoid the traps.

Professional fake negative reviews (reputation blackmail)

This fraud targets shop owners, restaurants, self-employed workers and regulated professions, by exploiting the fear of a drop in visibility and trust.

How it works

Scammers contact the victim (email, phone, messaging apps) claiming that a negative review has been posted, or that a “review campaign” can start if nothing is done.
Their goal is to get a quick payment—often via hard-to-trace methods—in exchange for a supposed deletion or halt of the reviews.
Warning signs : asking for money to “remove” reviews, time pressure, refusal to communicate through an official channel, payment in crypto/prepaid card/suspicious bank transfer, unrealistic promises (“guaranteed removal”), contact from a generic address.

A few tips:

• 🧾 Don’t pay: keep the messages and gather evidence (screenshots, phone numbers, emails).
• 🔒 Secure your accounts (Google Business Profile, review platforms): strong password + 2FA.
• 📣 Respond publicly and calmly to disputed reviews, without disclosing personal information.
• 🚫 Report fraudulent reviews using the tools provided by the relevant platform.
• ⚖️ If threats persist, consult a legal adviser and consider filing a police report.

Conclusion

Blackmail works mainly by triggering panic: keep a record of everything, secure your access, and use the official procedures for disputing reviews.
Report the attempt to the relevant authorities and inform other professionals around you.

See our guide Key steps to avoid most online scams! to strengthen your protections.

Useful links: Report Fraud (UK) | Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) (US) | National Cyber Security Centre (UK)

Written by : René Ronse
Methodology : Our alert articles are based on regular monitoring of national reporting platforms, feedback from victims, and statements issued by relevant authorities.
About the author : René Ronse, manager of ArnaqueOuFiable.com. Expert in consumer cybersecurity, specialist in detecting online fraud, product transparency, and digital compliance. He has over 20 years of experience analyzing hidden subscription mechanisms, unreadable terms and conditions, aggressive sales tactics, and deceptive commercial practices on the web.
Sources : consumeraffairs.com | google.com | searchengineland.com | france24.com
Last updated : 24 January 2026.
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