How to report a Google review extortion scam

Google describes it as a sudden increase in 1-star and 2-star reviews on your profile, followed by someone demanding money, goods or services to remove them. Google calls extortion a serious policy violation and says its systems catch most suspicious activity, but asks businesses to report what they see.

Source: Google Business Profile Help: Report negative review extortion scams on your Business Profile, checked 15 October 2026

• Don't engage with or pay the people involved. Google says paying can encourage more attempts and doesn't guarantee the reviews are removed.
• Don't try to settle it yourself by offering money or services.
• Don't wait to collect evidence. Google says the sooner you gather proof, the better.

Source: Google Business Profile Help: Report negative review extortion scams on your Business Profile, checked 15 October 2026

• Screenshots of every demand, whether by email, WhatsApp, Telegram, social media or anything else written, showing the date, time and sender's details where possible.
• Direct links to each review you think is part of the attack.
• Any names, usernames, email addresses, phone numbers or social profiles linked to the people making demands.
• When you first noticed the rise in negative reviews, and when the first demand arrived.
• Details of any similar attempts before.

Source: Google Business Profile Help: Report negative review extortion scams on your Business Profile, checked 15 October 2026

Google asks for direct links to the reviews involved. To copy one:

1. Go to Google Maps.
2. Search for your business name and town.
3. Select Reviews.
4. Next to the review, select More, then Share review.
5. In the Share window, select Send a link.
6. Under Link to share, select Copy link.

Source: Google Business Profile Help: Manage customer reviews, checked 15 October 2026

1. Open Google's help page on negative review extortion scams and select the link to the merchant extortion report form.
2. Enter your contact details and your relationship to the business.
3. Add the business's full name, address and a link to the affected profile.
4. Describe the suspicious reviews and how the person contacted you and what they asked for.
5. Attach your screenshots and files.
6. Submit the form.

• Google investigates and notifies you of the result. For privacy and security reasons it won't share specifics of the investigation.
• This form is only for cases where you've been directly asked for money or favours to remove reviews.

Source: Google Business Profile Help: Report negative review extortion scams on your Business Profile, checked 15 October 2026

Use the normal route instead. Reviews that break Google's policies for other reasons, such as spam or off-topic content, are reported through the Reviews Management Tool, which our reviews guide walks through.

Sources: Google Business Profile Help: Report negative review extortion scams on your Business Profile, checked 15 October 2026; Google Business Profile Help: Manage customer reviews, checked 15 October 2026

Disclosure: this is our product. Zolyp doesn't monitor or reply to reviews. It writes and designs Google Business updates and events in your brand's style and publishes them to your connected profile once you approve. There's a 3-day free trial, no card required.