We work extremely hard to earn and maintain our Google reviews, and we place a strong focus on building genuine relationships with our clients to ensure they’re happy with our services.

Last week, I was contacted via WhatsApp and through our Google page by someone calling himself Satyam Singh—almost certainly a fake name—offering to sell us five-star reviews. I politely declined and made it clear that we don’t need paid reviews or external marketing assistance.

A few minutes later, he messaged again, this time offering to remove any negative reviews for $500. This was confusing, as we’ve been fortunate to maintain only five-star reviews.

Shortly after checking our Google My Business account, I noticed six negative reviews had suddenly appeared. All were posted within minutes of each other, all from overseas accounts.

When I confronted him, he denied posting the reviews but claimed he could have them removed for $500. As a small business still recovering from COVID and now facing broader economic pressures in Australia, we work incredibly hard to stay afloat. This behaviour is nothing short of extortion.

I’ve forwarded all relevant information to Google in the hope the reviews will be removed and have also reported the WhatsApp number involved.

It’s a disgusting way to try to make money. All of the fake reviewer accounts have left five-star reviews for businesses in the UK, and I sincerely hope none of those businesses felt pressured to give in and pay this individual extortion money.