Fake Review Extortion Is Back. Here’s Your 24‑Hour Defense Plan (No Panic Required)
In the last 48 hours, local outlets reported fresh waves of 1‑star review attacks on small businesses—followed by WhatsApp messages demanding payment to “clean things up.” Movers, roofers, and repair companies were among the targets—i.e., exactly the kinds of trades where one bad week of ratings can tank booked jobs.
Myth vs. Reality
Myth: Paying gets the reviews removed faster.
Reality: It marks your business as an easy target and can make things worse. Instead, use policy and process. (The FTC has also cracked down on deceptive reviews broadly—penalties are real.)
Your First 24 Hours: A Simple, Repeatable Checklist
Collect evidence. Screenshot reviews + profiles, note dates/times, and save any messages you received.
Flag properly. Report each review in Google Business Profile and note case IDs. Keep responses factual and brief: “We can’t locate your record; please contact us at ___ so we can investigate.” Future customers are the audience.
Rally legitimate reviews—safely. Ask every recent customer for an honest review (no incentives, no screening). Consistent, policy‑safe volume dilutes the hit and signals authenticity.
Communicate internally. Share a one‑page SOP so anyone answering phones or texts knows the script and escalations.
Build the Long‑Term Moat (Lightweight Automation Wins)
Rating drop alerts: Trigger an internal alert if your average dips by 0.2 stars in 24 hours.
Post‑job review prompts: Automatically send a neutral, same‑for‑everyone request via text/email within 2–12 hours of service completion (no “happy/unsatisfied” gating flows—those are risky).
Reputation dashboard: Track reviews, responses, and resolution times in one place.
Template library: Pre‑approved public replies + private outreach messages so your team never writes from scratch.
Trend Watch (Why This Matters Now)
While extortion scams are spiking again, the tools to defend—and grow—got better this week. Adobe released AI agents for journey design, audience targeting, and support; Microsoft announced Copilot bundles that put sales/service automation in reach without extra add‑ons. Translation: more owner‑friendly ways to monitor, respond, and keep your pipeline moving even during a ratings squall.
Curious how these safeguards and automations could work inside SocialBlastPRO—without adding admin chaos? Let’s explore together.
