Fake Review Extortion: A Survival Guide from an SEO Company in Portland, OR

What Portland Businesses Must Know When Sudden 1-Star Reviews Strike

Every Portland business owner knows the sinking feeling: you open your Google Business Profile in the morning and suddenly see a streak of new one-star reviews. No names you recognize. No real customer details. Some with no comments at all.

Your heart drops.

What’s worse is what follows — an email or message demanding payment to stop the attack or remove the fake reviews. This tactic, known as fake review extortion, is rising fast across the country and hitting many local businesses hard.

As an established SEO company in Portland, OR, Effective Web Solutions often sees this pattern, and we help clients protect their Google presence before the damage compounds. Fake reviews don’t just hurt your star rating — they impact phone calls, website traffic, and local SEO visibility almost instantly.

In simple terms, attackers review-bomb your business… then demand ransom to make it stop.

This guide walks you through exactly what to do — clearly, calmly, and without feeding the scammer.

The Golden Rule: Never Pay the Extortionists

Fake review scammers usually demand $50–$100 in cryptocurrency, gift cards, or cash apps — anything untraceable.

Paying seems like the “quick fix,” but it’s actually the biggest trap.

Here’s why you never pay:

• It rarely guarantees the removal of the fake reviews
• It labels your business on underground “payer lists,” inviting more attacks
• Scammers often return weeks later with a new cluster of accounts
• Multiple extortion groups share lists of compliant victims

Once you pay, you’re seen as an ongoing revenue stream.

Refusing to pay is your first and strongest line of defense.

Your First Hour Checklist (This Is What Protects You Fast)

When fake review extortion hits, the first hour matters more than you think. Speed helps Google’s system flag the attack as a coordinated pattern rather than slow, individual disputes.

Here’s the exact response protocol reputation teams use:

1. Screenshot Everything

Document each fake review:

• Reviewer profile
• Timestamp
• Star rating
• Messages sent by the scammer

Label each screenshot clearly (e.g., “2025-11-10_fake-review_01.png”) and store them in a safe folder.

2. Use Google’s Merchant Extortion Form

This is much faster than using the “Flag Review” button and this form goes directly to Google’s Trust & Safety team. Include:

• Screenshots
• Any extortion messages
• Timeline of how many reviews appeared and when
• Evidence you didn’t serve the reviewers

Google prioritizes extortion cases far more quickly than regular spam reviews.

3. Flag Each Review Individually

While the extortion form is processing:

• Open the review in your Google Business Profile
• Click Flag as inappropriate
• Choose Conflict of interest or Spam

This boosts the chances of removal once Google begins reviewing your case.

How to Respond Publicly (Copy/Paste Script)

Public responses are not for the scammer — they’re for real customers reading your profile.

Your goal: signal that the review is fake without arguing, accusing, or sounding defensive.

Use this exact script:

“We have noticed a pattern of reviews posted recently that do not match our records of service. We take feedback seriously, but we believe this review to be part of a spam attack and have reported it to Google for investigation. If you are a verified client, please reach out to us directly so we can assist you.”

This message:

• Protects your credibility
• Reassures genuine customers
• Signals to Google that you’re handling this professionally
• Avoids emotional replies that could worsen visibility

Keep this script ready — extortion attacks often come in waves.

Review Resilience Is Your Long-Term Shield

Fake-review extortion is stressful, unfair, and disruptive — but it’s survivable when handled correctly. Document. Report. Respond calmly. Never pay.

And above all, remember:

A steady flow of honest reviews is your best long-term defense. Businesses with consistent review activity can absorb attacks far better than those with only a handful of ratings.

If you feel overwhelmed or your Google Business Profile has taken a hit, our team is here to help restore stability and protect your digital presence.

As a trusted SEO company in Portland OR, we’ve helped countless local businesses recover from these attacks — and build a stronger, more resilient online reputation than before.