A fake review scam is a deceptive practice where individuals or businesses create or pay for false reviews to mislead potential customers about the quality of a product or service. These reviews are typically posted on online platforms, marketplaces, or social media to artificially inflate ratings and boost the reputation of a business or product. Conversely, fake negative reviews may also be posted to damage the reputation of competitors.
Fake reviews can distort the customer decision-making process, leading people to purchase low-quality products or services based on misleading information. They can appear as overly positive, suspiciously generic, or as negative reviews that lack specific details. Some companies may hire review farms or bots to generate large numbers of fake reviews in a short time.
Fake review scams can harm consumers by leading them to trust unreliable businesses or products. They also create unfair competition in the market, making it difficult for legitimate businesses to compete. To avoid falling for fake review scams, consumers should look for consistent patterns in reviews, be wary of extreme reviews (both overly positive or negative), and use trusted review sites.