Knoxville Businesses Warned: Google Review Scams Are on the Rise
If you rely on Google reviews to build trust and drive new business—read this.
A growing scam is targeting small businesses across the country, and Knoxville companies are not immune. Fake reviewers are hijacking Google Business Profiles, flooding them with 1-star reviews—and then demanding money to remove them.
It’s digital extortion. And it’s real.
Watch the Full News Report Below
From 5 Stars to Panic Mode—In 20 Minutes
Alison DiChristopher has run her family appliance service company for over 30 years. Like many small business owners, she worked hard to build a stellar Google rating—mostly 5-star reviews from happy customers.
Then she got a text message.
“It showed two fake reviews and said, ‘Someone paid me to cancel your Google listing—do you want me to proceed?’ I thought it was a hoax… until 16 one-star reviews hit my profile in 20 minutes.”
The scammer followed up with a demand: Pay me, or I’ll keep going. He claimed to have 40 more fake reviews ready to post. And Alison wasn’t alone.
Other businesses—including Polson Painting in Florida—reported the same scheme, with messages traced to foreign numbers. The common theme: mass review drops, fake customer stories, and no clear way to stop it.
Knoxville Could Be Next
These attacks aren’t isolated. They’re spreading fast—and Google isn’t responding fast enough.
“There’s no number to call,” Alison says. “We flagged the reviews, but we felt powerless.”
Consumer advocates say the problem has worsened since Google added messaging capabilities to Business Profiles. Scammers are now using apps like WhatsApp to send threats that can’t be traced.
Meanwhile, legitimate businesses suffer the consequences.
Why It Matters for Knoxville
Whether you run a plumbing company in Fountain City or a boutique in Bearden, your Google presence matters. Local search rankings are shaped in part by star ratings and review counts—and scammers know it.
A hit to your Google profile can mean fewer calls, less foot traffic, and lost revenue.
And the worst part? These scammers are banking on the fact that most small business owners don’t know how to respond—or can’t get help quickly.
What You Can Do Right Now
Here are four steps Knoxville businesses can take today:
1. Monitor your Google Business Profile daily.
You won’t always get alerts. Log in and check your reviews manually.
2. Flag fake reviews immediately.
Use the three-dot menu next to each review and select “Report review.” It may take time, but it's the only official recourse.
3. Educate your team.
Anyone who answers phones or checks email should be aware of this scam and avoid replying to threatening messages.
4. Verify reviewer profiles.
Click on the reviewer’s name. If their profile is brand new, has no photo, or leaves the same review on multiple businesses—it's likely fake.
Google Needs a Better System
As one business owner put it:
“Google has the data. They should be able to see when someone is targeting multiple businesses the same way.”
Until Google steps up, small businesses must protect themselves—and each other.
If you’ve been hit, document everything. Screenshot the reviews and report the profile. You may also want to share your experience in local groups to warn others.
Embedded Help for Businesses Under Fire
At Hometown Impact, we help Knoxville businesses clean up their digital presence, respond to bad reviews, and build a local reputation that scammers can’t shake.
We don’t work from a distance—we come into your business, help set up protections, and give you a real person on your side every weekCore Content Reference.
If your Google profile has taken a hit or you just want someone to keep an eye on it, here’s how we help.
Original Story: https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/investigations/10-investigates/scammers-hijack-google-reviews/
