What Is Review Bombing—and How Can You Stop It?
Review bombing is when a group of people—usually upset customers, online trolls, or competitors—flood your business with a large number of negative reviews all at once. This can tank your star rating, damage your reputation, and scare away new customers.
But you’re not powerless. Here’s how you can protect your business from review bombing—and recover quickly if it happens.
Dig Deeper: How to Delete a Google Review
What Is Review Bombing?
Review bombing is a form of online attack where multiple negative reviews are posted in a short period of time.
This can be done by:
- Angry customers who are upset over a policy or incident.
- Competing businesses trying to damage your reputation.
- Trolls targeting your business for unrelated reasons (like a social media controversy).
How to Recognize Review Bombing:
- A sudden spike in negative reviews within a few hours or days.
- Reviews that use similar language or repeat the same complaints.
- Reviews from accounts with little or no history.
- Reviews from users with no real connection to your business.
Why Review Bombing Is So Dangerous
Review bombing can quickly damage your business by:
- Lowering your overall star rating.
- Scaring away potential customers.
- Showing up on the first page of Google (if your business has a Google profile).
- Leading to bad press or social media backlash.
But if you act fast, you can limit the damage.
How to Protect Your Business from Review Bombing
1. Monitor Your Reviews Regularly
Stay ahead of review bombs by keeping an eye on your review pages.
- Set up Google Alerts for your business name.
- Use the Google Reviews Management Tool to monitor incoming reviews.
- Check your profiles on other platforms (Yelp, Facebook, TripAdvisor) weekly.
Why This Matters:
The faster you spot a review bomb, the faster you can respond.
2. Flag Fake Reviews Immediately
If you spot a flood of fake or malicious reviews, report them as quickly as possible.
How to Report on Major Platforms:
- Google:
- Go to the review on your Business Profile.
- Click the three-dot menu and select “Flag as inappropriate.”
- Use the Google Reviews Management Tool for faster results.
- Yelp:
- Go to the review, click the three-dot menu, and select “Report Review.”
- Facebook:
- Go to the review, click “Find Support or Report Recommendation.”
What to Say:
- Clearly state that this is part of a review bomb attack.
- Mention that the reviews are fake or malicious.
- Provide evidence if you have it (such as screenshots of coordinated social media posts).
3. Respond Calmly—But Carefully
While you’re waiting for flagged reviews to be removed, respond professionally to each one.
Example Response:
“We take all feedback seriously, but we have no record of your visit or interaction with our business. We are actively working to address false reviews. Please reach out directly if you have any real concerns.”
Why This Works:
- It shows potential customers that you are proactive.
- It casts doubt on the fake reviews without being aggressive.
- If the review is later reviewed by the platform, your calm response supports your case.
4. Strengthen Your Review Filtering Settings (If Available)
Some platforms, like Facebook and Yelp, allow you to control who can post reviews.
- Turn on review moderation (require approval before reviews go public).
- Set profile age limits for reviewers (so new accounts can’t post).
- Temporarily disable reviews if a review bomb is ongoing (Facebook).
Why This Helps:
It slows down the attack and gives you time to respond.
5. Contact the Platform Directly (If Needed)
If the review bombing is severe, you may need to escalate it with platform support.
- Contact Google Business Support for help with a mass removal request.
- Use the Yelp Business Support Form to explain the situation.
- For Facebook, use the Business Support Inbox.
What to Include:
- A clear explanation of the attack.
- Links to the affected reviews.
- Any evidence of coordination (like screenshots of social media posts encouraging the attack).
6. Collect Positive Reviews to Offset Damage
If some fake reviews remain, you can minimize their impact with genuine positive reviews.
- Ask satisfied customers to leave feedback.
- Use email or SMS follow-ups after every purchase.
- Offer a simple review link on your website.
Why This Works:
A flood of fresh, positive reviews can quickly boost your star rating—and make the fake reviews look suspicious.
7. Prepare for Future Attacks
If you’ve been targeted once, it could happen again. Make sure you’re prepared.
- Monitor your reviews regularly with alerts.
- Set a policy for responding to suspicious reviews.
- Educate your staff on how to spot and report fake reviews.
- Consider working with a reputation management service (like Reputation Galaxy) for ongoing protection.
Final Thoughts: Review Bombing Isn’t the End
A review bomb can be scary, but it’s rarely permanent.
With the right strategy, you can clean up the damage, restore your rating, and even prevent future attacks.
Need Help Removing Fake Reviews After a Review Bombing?
At Reputation Galaxy, we help businesses recover from review bombing attacks, remove fake reviews, and protect their online reputation.
No win, no fee. Private support. Proven results.
Get a Free Quote or call us now to start cleaning up your page.