Positive reviews online? They may be fakes
Online reviews are extremely important for businesses as good ones can help you gain customers while poor reviews can drive them away.
While companies are very grateful to get positive reviews from customers, there is evidence fake online reviews can be bought and an advocate says it's a massive problem and why consumers shouldn’t always believe reviews they see online.
"I think most people don't realize how prevalent the problem is with fake online reviews" said Kay Dean, the founder of Fake Review Watch.
Dean is a former United States Federal criminal investigator from San Jose, California who founded Fake Review Watch after having her own negative issues with false reviews when she was seeking medical treatment.
Dean said whether you're seeking a massage, a pedicure or a dog walker many businesses use fake reviews online.
“From doctors to dentists to contractors to piano teachers to wedding DJs, you name it - it’s happening” said Dean.
Dean said she was recently doing research on fake reviews when she came across the Silverhill Dental Clinic in Etobicoke.
"Silverhill Dental popped up on my radar because they had received 180 five star Google reviews within a two day period and that was immediately suspicious" said Dean.
Dean said the dental office also had 195 Facebook recommendations posted over 3 days. From her research she recognized names, photos and comments that have also been used to give fake five star reviews to other businesses in various parts of the United States.
“24 of these 30 Toronto dental patients also used the same cleaners in Florida, 18 used the same Texas locksmith and 15 use the same Maryland locksmith" said Dean.
Dean said that some of the names were accompanied by stock photos from the internet and that many of the positive comments were used over and over again on various websites.
When CTV News reached out to Silverhill Dental Clinic the business said it had no comment, but the next day it's Facebook page was taken down and hundreds of reviews and recommendations were removed.
In a statement to CTV News, Google Canada said “we've conducted our review and have found abuse.”
“Our team has conducted an initial review and has taken action on the fraudulent reviews, including removing policy-violating content and suspending associated user accounts," a spokesperson added. "Our policies clearly state reviews must be based on real experiences and information, we closely monitor 24/7 for fraudulent content and we continue to invest in ways to keep the information on Maps authentic and reliable."
A spokesperson for Meta/Facebook said they've “disabled several accounts for sharing fake reviews and removed the reviews they’ve posted.”
“Fraudulent and deceptive activity is not allowed on our platforms, including offering or trading fake reviews," they said. "We have dedicated extensive time and resources to tackling this issue, and our safety and security teams are continuously working to help prevent these practices.”
Dean believes some companies are benefiting from positive reviews and are getting an unfair competitive advantage.
"This is a fake review ring operating openly on Facebook and in my opinion it’s operating offshore" said Dean.
Dean feels tech companies aren't doing enough to police online reviews which is unfair and leaves consumers in the dark.
"There are no consequences and cheating is rewarded in this environment and my advice to consumers is too dismiss reviews altogether as a reliable source as too many of them are fakes" said Dean.
There are also concerns businesses can be hit with fake negative reviews and then charged money to have them removed.
Dean says both Google and Facebook make billions of dollars on advertising and need to do more to protect consumers from being duped.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.