I recently came across a business with an impressive 4.9-star rating, but after visiting, I found that the products and services didn’t live up to the reviews. I started wondering if it was just me—until I found a review mentioning that the business offers a 10% discount in exchange for 5-star ratings.
How can I report businesses that engage in this kind of manipulation? Or what should I do if a business solicits a fake review from me? I also asked around, and my friends have noticed many businesses doing the same lately.
I feel like I was tricked, and it even made me question if something was wrong with my own judgment.
2 Likes
Hi @FerdiantonoLim
So sorry for the false POI and in return that you were misled to go there.
Well you normally can report the place directly from Google maps app. Take a look at this Post about reporting profiles and POI on Google maps.
- Click on the POI in question
- Click on suggest an edit
- It brings you to a report buisness conduct page.
Nevertheless I’ll also make sure to escalate this if you share the link to the place on Google maps. Please use the PM section. I’ll send you a message.
Thanks
6 Likes
hi @FerdiantonoLim
As per your concern, asking review from users is completely against the Google policies. In this case capture the photo where they were offering discount on adding reviews and report that page by choosing appropriate option and submit that image.
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This is not exactly correct, @FerdiantonoLim. The business may kindly ask you to leave a review, but not in exchange for some benefit, such as a rebate when leaving a positive review.
@SholaIB, it seems, the option to report a business is either not available for all countries or must be done differently. I only see “Report a legal issue”:
A few years ago, during my stay in New Delhi, India, I encountered an unethical practice at a budget hotel near the New Delhi Railway Station.
At the time of checkout, I noticed the front desk staff requesting customers’ mobile phones under the pretense of performing some action. Upon closer observation, it became evident that they were using the customers’ devices to rate their own listing on Google Maps with five-star reviews before returning the phones.
When my turn came, the receptionist asked for my phone as well, but I refused. Unfortunately, I observed that many customers handed over their phones without hesitation, unaware of what was happening.
It is disappointing to see such deceptive tactics being employed to manipulate online ratings instead of genuinely improving service quality. Ironically, I had chosen this hotel based on its seemingly impressive 4.9-star rating on Google Maps—only to later realize how misleading that rating was.
The only way to prevent such practices is by raising awareness. Customers should be cautious and avoid handing over their mobile devices to others without a valid reason. Transparency and ethical business practices should be the foundation of any hospitality service, not manipulation.
That’s quite interesting @wilfriedB
Although I have escalated this issue already so it’s ok.
Nevertheless I will investigate from other local guides to see what regions don’t have that feature.
Thank you for letting us know you don’t have it. Wonder who else can verify for us ?
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@SholaIB I did check claimed and unclaimed listings in Germany, France and Italy using my German profile. I also don’t remember having seen that option at all.
But possibly, in some cases “report a legal issue” might have the same result …?
@dotcompals
That’s awful,such places should be reported as well.
Speaking about reporting,could you also verify if you have the report buisness conduct feature at your ends?
Cheers
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@WilfriedB
Thank you for the feedback.
I actually took a look at report a legal issue, it isn’t actually the same function.
I’ll try to find out from the team and get back to you or write a post about it.
Thank you for the discovery and interactions here.
Cheers
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Yes sir you are right. Anyone can request his customer for review but he cannot offer any cashback, discount or gift.
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Hi SholalB, where i should look for “the report buisness conduct feature”. ?
Hello @dotcompals
It should be under edit. Please check just to be sure you have it. Follow the steps I shared in the comment marked as solution.
I have just gotten report that some regions don’t have that feature on their Google maps app. Sorry about that. We can always escalate issues like that if you bring it to our notice.
Thank you.
