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Is It Illegal to Leave a Fake Review

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You're shopping online; you find but the right product at the right toll, and the reviews are almost as well skillful to be true! Y'all've been persuaded to role with your difficult-earned cash, only how can you know for sure if these reviews are real or fake?

Unfortunately, all it takes is a quick Google search to find somewhere to buy false reviews. Anyone tin create an account and leave a review on open platforms such as Google, Amazon and Facebook, making it easy for scammers to write and mail service imitation ratings and reviews, and extremely difficult for consumers to decipher which ones are genuine.

The Competition and Markets Dominance (CMA) estimates that £23 billion of consumer purchases a yr are influenced by online reviews, making simulated reviews a serious effect.

Our own research shows that 72% of consumers are worried well-nigh fake reviews. So, while writing or commissioning fake reviews (also known as astroturfing) is evidently unethical, is information technology really illegal in the United kingdom?

Imitation reviews are damaging, simply are they illegal?

In terms of the question 'Are imitation reviews illegal?', the brusque respond is 'yep'. Although posting a fake review, or failing to include negative reviews, may not seem like a big bargain, purposefully misleading your customers could place you in violation of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008, equally well as advert codes.

Under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008, businesses cannot conduct misleading actions or omissions which are probable to cause a consumer to brand a different decision – this may include faking reviews or preventing customers from leaving genuine negative reviews.

Not only is it illegal to post fake positive reviews about your business, it'south also illegal to mail damaging false reviews about another business, such as a competitor. Trying to sabotage another business organisation like this could leave your concern open to being sued for malicious falsehood.

Are fake reviews that common?

Unfortunately, yes. Trustpilot recently revealed they removed two.2 one thousand thousand fake reviews from their open platform in 2020. 96% of consumers use reviews when shopping online, so customer feedback has go an important role of the buy procedure. Sites like Amazon even reward products with consistently high reviews by awarding them an 'Amazon Choice' badge. With a system like that in place, information technology's easy to see why unscrupulous sellers would be keen to buy false reviews. Which? recently found 10 websites selling fake Amazon reviews at just £5 apiece!

Why do businesses purchase imitation feedback? Find out why here.

How can I remove fake reviews?

The good news is that the laws around false reviews don't just apply to businesses; consumers tin also be held to business relationship. If y'all find yourself under burn down from unjust feedback (such every bit a defamatory review from a competitor), here are a few things y'all tin practice:

  • Get solid proof – to get any review removed or to take legal activeness, you will demand to be able to bear witness that the feedback is simulated – check out how to spot a simulated review, hither.
  • Contact the review platform to see if the review can be removed
  • If the simulated review has been left on your Google 'My Business' page, so you can study this through Google'south ain interface; nevertheless, you'll demand to prove that the review wasn't left past a genuine customer
  • It is possible to sue an individual for leaving a fake review, simply you must contact a solicitor and have solid proof that the allegations are fake and that you have lost business concern as a direct outcome, before you can accept it to court

How can I brand sure my business doesn't fall victim to fake reviews?

Unfortunately fake reviews accept go part and packet of the industry as open review platforms let anybody that makes an account to leave feedback. Now that yous're enlightened of the problem however, in that location'southward plenty you tin do to mitigate the impact fake reviews have on your business' reputation.

  • Employ a trusted reviews platform to collect feedback! Ensure you lot use a provider that doesn't allow just anybody to leave you a review. That style yous tin can make sure that your rating is a true reflection of your service, as you lot know information technology'southward only genuine customers who have left you lot feedback.
  • Make monitoring and managing your digital presence business as usual – specially your Google My Business concern page, every bit this will frequently be ane of the first places customers research your business.
  • Respond to feedback wherever possible, both good and bad. The more than you're seen to exist publicly responding, resolving and challenging potentially fake reviews, the more transparent and trustworthy your business will appear to potential customers.

Download our how to spot fake reviews checklist

Suspect your business may exist suffering from an influx of fake feedback? Download our handy checklist to easily place whether the reviews your receiving across the spider web are genuine or non.

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Laura Varley

Nearly THE Author

Laura Varley,

Laura works in the Content Team, but does way more than than write blogs. Specialising in digital re-create, she makes certain our SEO is upwards to scratch and regularly keeps the website flowing with fresh and engaging content. She also plays an agile role in Feefo's charitable efforts as a key member of our clemency committee.

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Source: https://www.feefo.com/en/business/resources/blog/fake-reviews-really-illegal

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