Why Trustpilot allow paid fake review?
Trustpilot’s policy on paid reviews is clear that businesses cannot pay for positive reviews, and reviews must be based on genuine experiences but my personal experience with Trustpilot that I have more than 5 instances where I have requested my client to share a review and Trustpilot unpublished first and then ask for service proof and when my client share a proof of email then Trustpilot guys ask for an invoice to publish a positive review.
Whereas Trustpilot immediately published the negative review and when contacted, they claim that its verified review and promote for their paid services to tackle this.
Message by Trustpilot to Company on instance where customer shared genuine Feedback about business, Trustpilot asked for proof, customer submitted a proof but as the invoice was old,Trustpilot did not approve the feedback
Message by Trustpilot to Company on instance where Fake reviews was publishsed by unknows without availing a services of business and when Business Flagged a review. BUT Trustpilot verified and published the review with this comments.
Fake review businesses are companies that specialize in creating fake reviews for businesses or individuals to manipulate their online reputation. These businesses offer services such as writing positive reviews for a fee or posting negative reviews about a competitor’s business.
Fake review businesses use various techniques to create fake reviews, including hiring freelance writers to write positive reviews, creating fake accounts on review platforms, and using bots to generate large numbers of reviews quickly. Some fake review businesses may also offer services such as writing negative reviews about competitors or reporting legitimate reviews as fake to have them removed.
The impact of fake reviews on businesses can be significant. Positive reviews can help businesses attract new customers and improve their reputation, while negative reviews can damage a business’s reputation and drive customers away. Fake reviews can also have legal consequences, as they are a form of false advertising and can be considered fraud.
If a service provider receives a fake review on a Trustpilot, the best course of action is to report the review and provide evidence to support the claim that the review is fake. The service provider can also respond to the review publicly, providing factual information about the situation and offering to address any legitimate concerns the reviewer may have.
If a reviewer is using fake reviews to extort payment from a service provider, it is essential to report the extortion to the relevant authorities immediately. Extortion is a criminal offense and can result in severe legal consequences, including imprisonment and fines. It is also essential to keep records of any communication with the extortionist and provide evidence to law enforcement if necessary.