May 14, 2025
Why can't I remove a spam review?
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Hello,
It can be very frustrating when this happens. But there are steps you can take to request removal. Before we get started, please note:
***It may be difficult to prove they were not customers.
***For reviews with no comments, it will be difficult to prove why they are against guidelines.
***Reviews for a prior owner/manager will most likely not be removed unless they are against content guidelines.
***Reviews for a service you no longer offer will most likely not be removed unless they are against content guidelines.
I would recommend you take these steps to try and have the review/reviews removed.
Figure out exactly where you are in the following process and continue from there:
1.) Read The Guidelines - familiarize yourself with the Prohibited & Restricted Content Guidelines for Google Maps to understand the reasons Google will consider removing reviews.
2.) Report the review/reviews via the reporting tool:
- Login to Google as the business listing owner or manager.
- Go to this page: Report policy-violating reviews on your Business Profile.
- Click the Report Reviews button.
- Confirm that the email address showing is the correct email address & click "confirm".
- Either select the correct business from the list or search for it and then select it.
- Click through to the list of reviews and click on the "Report" link.
- Select the correct reason for disputing the review from the list provided.
3.) Google will immediately email you and indicate that they have received the request for removal, the status of your request, and that the review process may take up to 3 days.
4.) If the review/reviews are still there after five days you can check on the status here: Manage your Google Business reviews. While you are here, select the "appeal" option if it has not been removed.
5.) When you appeal, Google will email you a case number visible on the reporting screen and also in the subject line of the email.
6.) Wait for a resolution of the appeal and a final decision. This typically will take another 5-7 days.
7.) If your appeal is denied, come back here to the Forum, to this thread and provide the following so that we can escalate this for you:
- Your business name
- Your Google Maps profile URL
- The case numbers
- The link/s to the review/s
- Specific violation of Prohibited & Restricted Content Guidelines that has occurred
We will escalate for you as a last attempt to have the review/s removed. There is no guarantee that Google will remove the review/s but we are happy to submit this last attempt for you.
It's a long process, but following it through will give you the best chance at removal.
Wishing you the best,
Monica
If this reply was helpful, would you kindly click on Recommended Answer so that others here in the Help Forum can find it? Thank you!
Aug 13, 2025
I have escalated all of the reviews now. I cannot guarantee what their decision will be, and their decision is final. It is currently taking between 7 and 30 days for this process to be completed.
I will not be contacted about the resolution on this case, so please keep an eye on your profile to see if they were removed. If they are, I would appreciate knowing about it. I love to know when I am able to resolve a review issue for a merchant!
Sincerely,
Monica