And their main targets appear to be small businesses, which are often hit the hardest by poor reviews.<\/p>\n
Bondi-based removalist Move It With Gina was hit with four one-star reviews over two days recently \u2014 all credited to generic-sounding names which were not on the business\u2019 client list.<\/p>\n
\u201cBad experience. Charge $1000 (sic),\u201d one review said.<\/p>\n
Another said staff were \u201creckless and broke our expensive items\u201d and urged others to \u201cavoid this company\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cGoogle reviews for us are so important,\u201d owner Gina Petrovski told 7NEWS.com.au, noting even a single poor review can really hurt the business.<\/p>\n
Then came the sucker punch.<\/p>\n
Petrovski received a WhatsApp message from a Pakistani number with a demand to pay $60 to delete the reviews, and admitting they were fake.<\/p>\n
![\"Gina](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/13ad6707415f15ba95bfb655e37828b38cc18cd3.jpg\")
Gina Petrovski, owner of removalist company Move It With Gina. Credit: Gina Petrovski<\/p>\n
The scammer claimed they had been hired to leave 30 bad reviews but then were not paid, so they were passing the cost on to her.<\/p>\n
\u201c$60 otherwise I\u2019m going to More One Star review (sic),\u201d the message said alongside screenshots of the reviews that had already been left.<\/p>\n
Petrovski did not reply, and the scammer messaged again a day later to say: \u201cToday work start … Please pay my loss.\u201d<\/p>\n
Petrovski reported all of the reviews a total of four times before Google removed them.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not right the way Google controls it and doesn\u2019t really care but yet everybody relies on the Google reviews,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Petrovski blamed Google\u2019s reporting features and very basic options for business owners to reply to reviews as having created an environment which allowed scammers to thrive.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not surprised, I mean, it\u2019s very easy to do,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Petrovski said it would help to allow businesses to attach an image \u2014 such as a screenshot of a scammer claiming a fake review \u2014 to their replies to reviews while waiting for Google to decide if reviews would be deleted.<\/p>\n
![\"Petrovski\u2019s](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/09595842a841632f45def71faca0249ac233b15a.png\")
Petrovski\u2019s business was recently hit with a number of faked bad reviews. Credit: Gina Petrovski![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/bd3352698974bb62d082aec0d0b3c3841497981e.png\")
A person with a Pakistani number said they would delete the reviews if she paid them $60. Credit: Gina Petrovski<\/p>\n
In the time it takes Google to make that decision, the poor reviews can weigh down a business\u2019 rating and potentially drive away customers.<\/p>\n
But, while it \u201ccan be frustrating\u201d when being spammed by fake reviews, Petrovski said: \u201cI think it\u2019s good feedback, I think consumers should be communicating with the business.<\/p>\n
\u201c(But) sometimes there might be someone who didn\u2019t like where we park and just go in there to give a bad review.\u201d<\/p>\n
Google told 7NEWS.com.au it has \u201cinvestigated and fixed this matter\u201d with Petrovski.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur policies clearly state that reviews must be based on real experiences and information,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we find fake reviews that violate our policies, we take appropriate action including removing them.\u201d<\/p>\n