The Google Review Mafia Extortion Scam: How to Protect Your Business
WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA, USA — October 07, 2025
If you’ve noticed a sudden flood of 1-star reviews on your Google Business Profile, you may not be dealing with real customers. Instead, it could be the latest scam: groups posting fake negative reviews, then emailing demands for payment to “make them disappear.” It’s basically the Mafia, but with less class and more spam. The goal is simple—scare businesses into paying up just to protect their reputation.
A Real Example
One of our recent clients was hit with more than 10 negative reviews in less than 24 hours. None of them came from actual customers. Within hours, Your Brand Voice was able to get the fake reviews cleared, protecting the client’s reputation and restoring confidence in their profile.
What To Do If You’re Targeted
- Do not respond. Engaging only validates the scammer.
- Report reviews to Google. Use Google’s reporting tools to flag suspicious activity.
- Be patient. Google has become much faster at detecting review bombing patterns. In many cases, reviews are marked as “under investigation” before they’re removed, so the public knows they aren’t legitimate.
While it’s stressful to wait, reporting and letting Google’s system do the work is the best move.
Strengthen Your Real Reputation
The best defense is a strong base of authentic, positive reviews. That way, even if a wave of negative appears, they get buried under the weight of real feedback. At Your Brand Voice, we use our Activate.Reviews platform to consistently drive new 5-star reviews and push down any negativity that may exist.
If the “review mafia” comes after your business, don’t give them your time or money. Report, reinforce your reputation, and let us help you flood your profile with the only reviews that matter—the real ones.
Contact Us
📞 Phone: (407) 203 6767
📧 Email: social@yourbrandvoice.com
📍 Address: 1315 Winter Springs Blvd. Winter Springs, FL 32708
