Members are reporting false “bad reviews” on Google from people who are not clients and in one case a proven competitor business.  Pets Australia is acting for a member in one case.

BE WARNED! The ACCC acts on business competitors attacking other businesses in social media.

If you (misleadingly) ask friends or relatives to post positive reviews of your business online, you can be fined up to $10MILLION dollars. Positive reviews must be from real clients.  SEE HERE

If you (misleadingly) offer financial incentives (including discounts) or don’t declare that you are being paid to positively review a business, you can be fined up to $10MILLION dollars. Positive reviews must be real and either unsolicited or declared.

If you are aware of fake “positive” reviews on any of your sites, you may also be fined if ou do not remove these within 24 hours.

If you write a review (good or bad) when you have not bought the product or service (ie not your genuinely held opinion), you can be fined up to $10MILLION dollars. Positive reviews must be from real clients.

If you ask your friends to write bad reviews about a competitor and they have not bought the goods or services, YOU can be fined up to $10 MILLION. Do you seriously think that your friends won’t “dob you in” with the ACCC in their face threatening them personally with a $250,000 fine?

If you are sure that a bad review is fake, but you can’t take it down (Google doesn’t do this) here is some great advice on how to respond to both the complainant and Google READ MORE

Don’t be associated with illegal activity. Outcompete them on quality and price. There is a strong association between staying focused on YOUR business and not being diverted by the business of others.