A disturbing new scam is making the rounds, and it’s targeting small businesses that rely on their online reputation. A business owner recently received a text message from a foreign number claiming they were hired to post 35 fake negative reviews—and that one had already been posted. The implication? Pay up, or suffer the rest. This isn’t just a nuisance—it’s attempted extortion. Here’s what this looks like, why it’s happening, and most importantly, what you should do if it happens to you.
A U.S. business recently received this exact text message from a +92 (Pakistan) number:
“Someone order me to do negative reviews on your profile! He want 35 negative reviews on your profile. I just posted 1.”
Let’s break down what’s happening here—and what businesses need to do to defend themselves.
What’s Really Going On?
This message is a classic example of review extortion.
The scammer claims someone hired them to trash your online presence. They use fear and urgency—mentioning a high number of fake reviews (35!)—to provoke a response. By sending a screenshot of an actual negative review, they try to prove they’re already in action and build pressure.
Once you reply? That’s when they strike. In similar scams, the next message typically includes a demand for money in exchange for stopping the flood of fake reviews—or for removing the ones already posted.
This isn’t just an annoyance—it’s a deliberate, calculated attempt to extort money using your business’s reputation as leverage.
I’m also seeing two other businesses, seemingly unrelated to each other, also posting about receiving these extortion type text messages from what appears to be the same phone number. Here are some screenshots from other businesses who posted publicly on Facebook about this:
Here’s another local business also receiving a similar text message:
What Should a Business Do If They Receive This Kind of Message?
1. Do Not Respond. Block the Number Immediately.
The scam hinges on one thing: getting you to reply. If you do, you confirm you’re a real person—and a target worth pursuing. Any reply, even asking them to stop, can escalate the situation or open the door to ongoing harassment.
Instead, block the number and mark it as spam or junk through your phone’s reporting features.
2. Report the Message.
Whether you received it through WhatsApp, SMS, or another messaging app, most platforms have a reporting feature. Report the number for abusive or fraudulent content. In the U.S., you can also report such messages to the FTC and to Google, especially if they claim to be posting reviews on Google Maps or your Business Profile.
This also helps review platforms and law enforcement build a case against scammers using the same tactics on others.
3. Monitor Your Online Reviews Proactively.
Now that you know you might be targeted, keep a close eye on your reviews. Check Google, Yelp, Facebook, and any other platform where your business is listed. Look for suspicious reviews:
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No details about the actual service
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Generic complaints
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Profiles with only one or two reviews
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A sudden burst of low-star ratings
Document them immediately. Take screenshots and save the URLs for reporting.
4. Respond to Suspicious or Fake Reviews Professionally.
Even if the review is clearly fake, your response is public—and visible to potential customers. Keep your tone professional. A good response might look like:
“We take all feedback seriously, but we have no record of this individual as a customer. This may be part of a known scam involving fake reviews, and we are reporting it to the platform.”
This shows readers you’re aware, transparent, and proactive—while also providing context for those seeing the review.
5. Report Fake Reviews to Google and Other Platforms.
On Google, you can flag the review directly. Choose “Spam” or “Conflict of interest” and submit the report. Use Google Business Profile Manager to track flagged reviews and responses.
Google doesn’t remove every reported review, but when you combine a clear report with screenshots of the threatening messages, your odds improve. Repeat this process on other platforms as needed.
6. Alert Your Team and Stakeholders.
If you have employees or a marketing agency managing your profiles, notify them immediately. Share the text message and advise them not to respond to any similar communications.
Being aligned helps prevent accidental responses and ensures that fake reviews are spotted quickly.
Why This Matters
Your online reputation is one of your most valuable business assets—and scammers know it. They’re betting you’ll panic and pay just to make it stop. Don’t fall for it. Every time a scam like this works, it encourages more of the same.
Whether you’re a solo entrepreneur or managing a team, a proactive stance is the best defense. Block, report, monitor, and respond—don’t engage directly.
