South Australian Business Targeted in Google Review Extortion Scam
A South Australian kitchen manufacturer and restoration business has been targeted by an online scam involving fake negative Google reviews and demands for payment to remove them. The incident highlights a growing trend of malicious actors attempting to exploit businesses through online reputation manipulation.
A business owner, Theresa Ferretti of ISPS Innovations in Lonsdale, detailed the ordeal to ABC Radio Adelaide, explaining that the fraudulent activity began after she refused to pay $200 US to an individual offering to manage her Google Ads and remove damaging reviews.
Ferretti first noticed the issue when a review surfaced referencing “tiles,” a product her company does not sell. “I noticed the first review that went up and it was talking about tiles and we don’t sell tiles,” she said. “I started looking at these reviews as they were popping up and they just made no sense so I reported them.”
Shortly after declining the unsolicited advertising services, ISPS Innovations was flooded with one-star reviews. According to Ferretti, the situation escalated when she received a threatening phone call from an unknown number. “They were trying to sell me Google ad work and remove reviews and I said ‘I’m not interested’,” she recounted. “That person was upset and said ‘I’ll show you.’ Within a matter of hours I started getting all these one-star reviews posted up.”
Identifying the Scammer
Ferretti and her husband, Daniel, were able to locate a phone number associated with the individual posting the fake reviews through their online account. In a direct conversation, the individual allegedly demanded $200 US in exchange for converting the negative reviews to positive ones. “I spoke with him and I was quite annoyed… he asked me for money and he’ll put those reviews into five-star reviews,” Ferretti stated. “I said absolutely not. That’s not how our business works.”
Ferretti reported the incident to SA Police, but was advised to file a report online as a cyber crime, a process she is currently undertaking. “It’s horrible, he just needs to be shut down,” she said.
Regulatory Response and Platform Policies
A spokesperson for Australia’s Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) emphasized the importance of reporting such scams directly to the relevant online platforms. “Platforms should have in place policies and procedures to address misconduct in connection with reviews,” the spokesperson stated. The ACCC’s National Anti-Scam Centre urges individuals to report threats and demands for money to law enforcement and Scamwatch before divulging any information.
Google released a statement affirming its commitment to combating fraudulent content. The company stated it “invests significantly in building technologies and instituting practices that help people find reliable information.” Google’s policies require reviews to be based on genuine experiences and the company claims to monitor content 24/7, employing both human review and automated technology. “When we find scammers trying to mislead people, we take swift action ranging from content removal to account suspension and even litigation,” the statement read.
The ABC has also reached out to SA Police for further comment.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities businesses face in the digital age and the importance of vigilance against online extortion attempts. Businesses should proactively monitor their online reputation and report any suspicious activity to the appropriate authorities and platforms.
