“Review bombing” extortion is on the rise, Google Maps is cracking down
Last Thursday, Google announced the launch of a new dedicated reporting form to help businesses listed on Google Maps report extortion attempts involving fake negative reviews. The new system aims to address schemes where malicious actors post inauthentic one-star reviews and then demand ransom payments from business owners to have them removed.
The measure aims to fight “review bombing,” a rising tactic where coordinated groups or individuals intentionally flood business profiles with negative ratings to damage their reputation or extract money.
Attackers often threaten to escalate the situation if the victim refuses to pay, risking more reputational damage and financial loss. These campaigns are part of wider efforts to pressure merchants into complying with extortion demands.
A growing percentage of businesses now rely on reviews on Google Maps and other mapping services to attract new customers. In response, Google has leveraged this trend to introduce ads to the service, along with adding features like “Discover” and curated lists for restaurants, cafes, and hotels.
The rating system on Google Maps has always been susceptible to abuse. It requires no verification of any kind to accept reviews, making it easy for businesses to buy positive reviews or, conversely, to be extorted by malicious actors leaving negative reviews.
Neither the inner workings nor the review method of the new service are currently known, but businesses are optimistic that this might help with a pain point they have experienced for a long time.
