Google Cracking Down on Fake Reviews in Maps

[engine]

Google is to crack down on fake reviews in Google Maps.
[support.google.com...]
[theverge.com...]

[Devagya]

Thank god! It has become so common that every business uses fake reviews on GMB. It is the right step to ensure that users have access to accurate and reliable information. Google should also add something for users to report suspicious reviews directly to Google and a penalty should be levied on businesses that are found to be involved in creating or soliciting fake reviews.

[engine]

@Devagya Google will be taking action.

Potential restrictions on Business Profiles

If we determine that a business owner has violated our Fake Engagement policy, we might place restrictions on their Business Profile (in addition to removing the violative reviews). Examples of possible restrictions include, but are not limited to, the following:

Business Profile will not be able to receive new reviews or ratings for set period of time
Business Profile’s existing reviews or ratings will be unpublished for set period of time
Business Profile will display a warning to let consumers know that fake reviews were removed

We will notify business owners via email if we plan to apply a restriction to their profile.