Google is stepping up its efforts to fight fake and incentivized reviews on Business Profiles. This week, several businesses across different industries have seen major enforcement actions, leaving many business owners shocked. Enforcement can also change what you are able to do on your own listing. If the reply option stops working, the first thing to check is why replies to reviews get blocked. It is a good moment to look at your own listing. Sorting reviews by star rating is the quickest way to see what is actually sitting there. Checking your own profile starts with the recent reviews. Sorting your reviews by date makes that quicker.
A Client’s Shocking Experience
Claudia Tomina, a recognized Google Product Expert, shared a recent incident that highlights this crackdown.
One of her clients saw their review count drop from 1,200 reviews to just 400 overnight. Soon after, they received an official notice from Google:
- Their Business Profile is restricted for 30 days.
- No new reviews or ratings can be added during this period.
- A warning banner now appears on their profile saying, “suspicious reviews were removed.”
The Reason Behind the Penalty
According to Claudia, the issue arose because the business asked customers for reviews at the register.
Google classifies this as pressuring customers at the point of sale, which goes against its Fake Engagement Policy.
Google’s rules clearly prohibit the following:
- Offering incentives such as discounts, freebies, or payments in exchange for reviews.
- Asking only for positive reviews while discouraging negative ones.
- Pressuring customers in person at checkout or during transactions.
A Widespread Enforcement
This incident is not an isolated case. Claudia and other Product Experts report that a wave of enforcement actions is happening across various industries this week.
By removing suspicious reviews and restricting profiles, Google aims to ensure that all reviews reflect genuine customer experiences.
Why This Matters for Businesses?
This development serves as a wake-up call for all business owners. Reviews play a key role in building trust and improving local search rankings. However, any attempt to manipulate reviews can lead to penalties, restrictions, and loss of credibility.
Business owners are now encouraged to focus on collecting authentic feedback by asking customers politely, sharing their official Google review link, or using QR codes responsibly.
Bottom line: Google’s message is clear. Authentic and voluntary reviews are the only way forward. Businesses should avoid shortcuts that could damage their reputation and visibility online.
