Introduction
The “1-Star” Attack on Kerala Businesses. If you run a business in Kerala whether it’s a dental clinic in Kochi, a restaurant in Calicut, or a resort in Munnar, you know the pain. You work hard for years to build a 4.8-star reputation, and suddenly, a wave of fake 1-star reviews attacks your profile.
Often, these aren’t real customers. They are legitimate competitors trying to bring your ranking down, or worse, scammers demanding money to “clean up” your profile.
For a long time, business owners felt helpless. But Google has just released a new, powerful tool specifically designed to fight this “Review Extortion.” As a Google Business Profile expert in Kerala, I want to break down exactly what this new update means for you and how to use it to protect your brand.
Often, these aren’t real customers. They are legitimate competitors trying to bring your ranking down, or worse, scammers demanding money to “clean up” your profile.
For a long time, business owners felt helpless. But Google has just released a new, powerful tool specifically designed to fight this “Review Extortion.” As a Google Business Profile expert, I want to break down exactly what this new update means for you and how to use it to protect your brand.
The New Update: Google’s “Merchant Extortion Report” Form
Recently, Lisa Landsman (Global Business Development at Google) announced a dedicated channel to report what they call “Review Extortion Scams.”
What is Review Extortion?
This happens when someone leaves a fake negative review (or threatens to) and then demands money, gift cards, or favors to remove it.
If you are facing this, Google’s official advice is clear:
DO NOT PAY: Paying only encourages them to attack you again.
GATHER EVIDENCE: Take screenshots of the review and the message demanding payment.
REPORT IMMEDIATELY: Use the new Merchant Extortion Report Form
“But Sanoop, What If It’s Just a Jealous Competitor?”
This is the most common case I see in Kerala. A competitor isn’t asking for money; they just want to ruin your business. They create fake Gmail accounts and drop 1-star ratings with no comments, or false claims like “Bad service.”
Step-by-Step: How to Remove Fake Competitor Reviews
If you suspect a competitor is behind your negative reviews, do not reply with anger. Follow this forensic process instead
Step 1: The Evidence Phase
Before you report, you need proof. Google won’t remove a review just because you say “it’s fake.”
Check the Profile:Does the reviewer have only 1 review (yours)? That’s a signal.
Check the Location:Are they reviewing your competitor in Kochi with 5 stars and you with 1 star? screenshot that connection.
Check the Timeline: Did you get 5 negative reviews in one hour? That is a “Review Attack.”
Step 2: The “Conflict of Interest” Report
Go to the Google Business Profile “Review Removal Tool.”Select the review.
Choose the violation type “Spam and Fake Content” or “Conflict of Interest.”
Pro Tip: Do not just click “Report.” You often need to escalate this manually with a “Product Expert” or through an additional appeal if the bot rejects it.
Step 3: What to Do If They Demand Money (The New Method)
If the attacker slips up and sends you a WhatsApp message or email saying, “Pay me Rs. 5000 and I will delete the review,” you now have the upper hand.
- Take a screenshot of that message.
- Use the new Merchant Extortion Report Form.
- Upload the proof. Google prioritizes these cases because they are illegal scams.
Don’t Let Them Win
Fake reviews are a violation of Google’s policy. They mislead customers and hurt honest businesses. While Google’s algorithms are getting smarter at catching spam, manual attacks from competitors often slip through the cracks.
You don’t have to accept a lower rating.
Need Help Fighting Back? Removing sticky, fake reviews requires a specific “Forensic Audit” of the reviewer’s digital footprint. If you are a business owner in Kerala facing a review attack or extortion attempt, contact me. I can help you draft the legal and technical appeal to get those reviews removed permanently.