The short version
Match the review to a specific rule, then report it. The review platform decides, against its own policy. Start by saving the link and a dated screenshot, then get a free plan for your situation.
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Audit the branded search page
Check the business name, owner names, suburb, service terms, reviews, images, map results, complaint pages, directories and old listings. A business can lose trust before the customer ever reaches the website.
Handle reviews with evidence and calm replies
Fake, unfair or malicious reviews need screenshots, notes on any pattern, the specific policy they break, and a calm public reply. Fighting in public usually makes the business look less trustworthy.
Keep your own listings accurate
Your website, Google Business Profile and directory listings are the pages you control. Keep the details current and the descriptions plain and true.
Ask for genuine reviews, fairly
Ask every customer, not just happy ones, and never offer anything in return. A steady stream of real reviews puts one bad one in context.
Questions
Can I do anything about fake Google reviews?
You can report a review that breaks one of Google’s rules, with a short factual note, and reply calmly in public. Google decides whether it comes down.
Can a small business do this itself?
Yes. Most of it is checking what shows up, reporting reviews that break a rule, replying calmly, and keeping your own listings accurate. The free check covers reviews and other results.
Fix My Name Online is a self-service tool, not a law firm, and this isn’t legal advice. Publishers, platforms and search engines make their own decisions; no one can promise a result. Need a lawyer?