Online reviews can make or break a business. Unfortunately, some individuals try to exploit this by threatening to harm a company’s reputation unless they’re paid. This is review extortion and it’s both unethical and illegal.
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At SEO Locale, we recently experienced this firsthand, and we want to share exactly what happened, how we handled it, and what steps other business owners should take if they’re targeted.
What Happened to Us
We began receiving one-star Google reviews from an individual we’d never done business with. Soon after, we received an email stating:
“Look, I just removed a review. If you want me to remove all reviews, you have to pay me for what I worked on.”
When we responded that we wouldn’t pay and that extortion is a crime, the person escalated, demanding:
“Send me $250… You not send me, post more one star.”
The threats continued, with offers to “replace” the negative reviews with positive ones but only if we sent money first:
“I told you I would remove them all and change them to five stars. Can you help me?”
We refused payment every time, making it clear that:
- Paying would violate Google’s guidelines
- There’s no guarantee the harassment would stop
- Extortion is a matter for law enforcement
Why You Should Never Pay
Paying extortionists doesn’t solve the problem it encourages more attacks. Once you send money, you’ve shown you’re willing to pay, which can lead to further blackmail, repeat targeting, and even other bad actors attempting the same scam. If your business is facing fake reviews or online attacks, our reputation management services can help restore and protect your brand’s credibility.
How We Responded (Our Proven Process)
- Documented Every Threat
We kept every email, timestamp, and screenshot. This documentation is critical when reporting to Google, law enforcement, or your legal team. - Reported the Incident to Authorities
We filed a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) and alerted local law enforcement. Extortion is a criminal offense. - Flagged Fraudulent Reviews on Google
Using Google Business Profile’s review dispute process, we submitted clear evidence that the reviews were part of a blackmail attempt. - Increased Genuine Review Requests
We reached out to real customers to share honest feedback, which helped bury the fake reviews and maintain our reputation.
Google’s Policy on Review Extortion
Google’s review guidelines explicitly prohibit:
- Offering or accepting money for reviews (positive or negative)
- Threatening a business with bad reviews for payment
- Posting fake reviews to manipulate ratings
These guidelines are your ally cite them when reporting fraudulent reviews.
Best Practices for Protecting Your Business from Review Blackmail
- Monitor reviews daily so you can catch suspicious activity early.
- Encourage genuine feedback from satisfied customers regularly.
- Train your team on how to handle suspicious messages or threats.
- Partner with a trusted SEO & reputation management agency to guide your strategy.
Our Final Advice
When targeted by review blackmail:
- Do not pay.
- Do not engage emotionally.
- Document and report.
- Strengthen your legitimate review base.
For step-by-step strategies on improving your local visibility and safeguarding your listing, check out our Google Business Profile Optimization guide. Your integrity and credibility matter more than a quick fix. By refusing to give in and taking the proper steps, you protect not just your business, but also help stop bad actors from hurting others.
