What Can I Do About Fake Negative Reviews On Amazon?
Dealing with fake negative reviews on Amazon can be infuriating—it’s like fighting a shadow. But the good news is that Amazon takes this issue seriously (most of the time), and there are steps you can take to address it. Here's how to handle it effectively:
1. Confirm They’re Fake
Before jumping to conclusions, analyze the reviews carefully. Fake reviews often share these red flags:
They’re vague or generic: There are no real details about the product.
Reviewer hasn’t purchased the product: Look for the “Verified Purchase” badge. No badge could mean the person didn’t buy it.
Reviewer’s profile looks sketchy: Check their other reviews. Are they bashing multiple similar products or only leaving 1-star reviews?
If you’re confident the reviews are fake, move on to the next steps.
2. Report the Reviews to Amazon
Amazon has a process to flag reviews you believe are fake. Here’s how:
Go to the review and click “Report Abuse” (usually right under it).
You must provide as much evidence as possible to support your claim. Be clear, specific, and factual. For example: “This reviewer has not purchased our product (no Verified Purchase badge) and left vague, misleading feedback inconsistent with the product’s features. They’ve also left similar fake reviews for competing products.”
Unfortunately, Amazon doesn’t always act quickly, but persistence pays off.
3. Escalate Through Seller Support
If the “Report Abuse” button doesn’t get results, open a case with Seller Support:
Log in to your Seller Central account.
Go to “Performance” > “Customer Feedback” > “Contact Us.”
Explain the situation thoroughly. Include:
A list of fake reviews (with links).
Specific reasons you believe they’re fake.
Any patterns you’ve noticed (e.g., similar wording across reviews).
Stay polite and professional—it increases your chances of action.
4. Use the Amazon Brand Registry (If You’re Registered)
If you’ve enrolled your brand in the Amazon Brand Registry, you get access to extra tools and support for tackling fake reviews. Reach your brand support team with all the evidence you’ve gathered. They can often assist more efficiently than regular Seller Support.
5. Take Preventative Measures
While you can’t stop all fake reviews, you can make it harder for bad actors to impact your business:
Encourage positive reviews: Focus on getting more legitimate positive reviews from happy customers. This can help drown out the fake ones.
Monitor your reviews regularly: Catch fake reviews early and act fast. Amazon’s algorithms may take down fake reviews eventually, but they’re not perfect, so you need to stay vigilant.
6. Legal Action (When It’s Serious)
Consider legal action if you have reason to believe a competitor is deliberately targeting your product with fake reviews. While this is rare, some sellers have successfully used cease-and-desist letters to stop competitors from engaging in shady practices. Consult a lawyer familiar with Amazon-related cases to explore this route.
7. Stay Calm and Focus on the Bigger Picture
Fake reviews suck, but they don’t define your product or brand. Keep delivering excellent service, encourage your satisfied customers to leave honest reviews, and focus on improving your product’s overall rating. Most buyers are smart enough to spot sketchy reviews, especially if you’re transparent and proactive.
Dealing with fake negative reviews on Amazon can be infuriating—it’s like fighting a shadow. But the good news is that Amazon takes this issue seriously (most of the time), and there are steps you can take to address it. Here's how to handle it effectively:
1. Confirm They’re Fake
Before jumping to conclusions, analyze the reviews carefully. Fake reviews often share these red flags:
They’re vague or generic: There are no real details about the product.
Reviewer hasn’t purchased the product: Look for the “Verified Purchase” badge. No badge could mean the person didn’t buy it.
Reviewer’s profile looks sketchy: Check their other reviews. Are they bashing multiple similar products or only leaving 1-star reviews?
If you’re confident the reviews are fake, move on to the next steps.
2. Report the Reviews to Amazon
Amazon has a process to flag reviews you believe are fake. Here’s how:
Go to the review and click “Report Abuse” (usually right under it).
You must provide as much evidence as possible to support your claim. Be clear, specific, and factual. For example: “This reviewer has not purchased our product (no Verified Purchase badge) and left vague, misleading feedback inconsistent with the product’s features. They’ve also left similar fake reviews for competing products.”
Unfortunately, Amazon doesn’t always act quickly, but persistence pays off.
3. Escalate Through Seller Support
If the “Report Abuse” button doesn’t get results, open a case with Seller Support:
Log in to your Seller Central account.
Go to “Performance” > “Customer Feedback” > “Contact Us.”
Explain the situation thoroughly. Include:
A list of fake reviews (with links).
Specific reasons you believe they’re fake.
Any patterns you’ve noticed (e.g., similar wording across reviews).
Stay polite and professional—it increases your chances of action.
4. Use the Amazon Brand Registry (If You’re Registered)
If you’ve enrolled your brand in the Amazon Brand Registry, you get access to extra tools and support for tackling fake reviews. Reach your brand support team with all the evidence you’ve gathered. They can often assist more efficiently than regular Seller Support.
5. Take Preventative Measures
While you can’t stop all fake reviews, you can make it harder for bad actors to impact your business:
Encourage positive reviews: Focus on getting more legitimate positive reviews from happy customers. This can help drown out the fake ones.
Monitor your reviews regularly: Catch fake reviews early and act fast. Amazon’s algorithms may take down fake reviews eventually, but they’re not perfect, so you need to stay vigilant.
6. Legal Action (When It’s Serious)
Consider legal action if you have reason to believe a competitor is deliberately targeting your product with fake reviews. While this is rare, some sellers have successfully used cease-and-desist letters to stop competitors from engaging in shady practices. Consult a lawyer familiar with Amazon-related cases to explore this route.
7. Stay Calm and Focus on the Bigger Picture
Fake reviews suck, but they don’t define your product or brand. Keep delivering excellent service, encourage your satisfied customers to leave honest reviews, and focus on improving your product’s overall rating. Most buyers are smart enough to spot sketchy reviews, especially if you’re transparent and proactive.