Google Review Accused Our Business of Theft. We Had No Way to Respond
This is a false and defamatory claim. The person was never our client. We have legal documentation, internal records, and evidence to prove that this accusation is fabricated and malicious.
We filed a formal complaint with Google, submitted a detailed explanation via the official Legal Complaint Form, and even attempted to reach out through various feedback channels.
We received no meaningful response. There is no option to upload evidence. There is no human contact. There is no process for appeal or verification.
Despite the fact that this is a serious criminal accusation (theft), Google’s review system does not require the reviewer to submit any proof, and there is no due process for the accused party.
This situation is not about a bad review — it’s about how a global platform allows anyone to publish criminal allegations that may damage small businesses, while refusing to review actual documentation or even acknowledge appeals.
The core issue here is that there is no verification mechanism for potentially harmful content in reviews — and no channel for resolution when reputational harm is inflicted without basis.
We’re sharing this case not for sympathy, but to raise a question:
How can small businesses defend themselves when platforms like Google make them vulnerable to fake, unverified, and potentially criminally defamatory reviews — and then simply ignore all efforts to respond?
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If needed, we can provide documentation. We’re open to suggestions, legal insight, and real-world stories from others who’ve been in similar situations.
We submitted our legal complaint through Google’s official Legal Support Form. We’re still waiting for any meaningful response. We are ready to provide legal documentation, screenshots, and police confirmation to any moderator, journalist, or platform willing to take this seriously.
I’m no expert so I’m just taking a stab in the dark:
- Sue the individual for defamation
- Create a new account
- Less honest businesses buy / have friends and family review the business to drown out the negative review. This seems to work and I guess is Google’s way of “letting the market handle it”.
- I would push on Google but not put my hope there for any redress at all.
You are the first person who didn’t scroll past this issue — and that already means a lot. Most people ignore these things until it happens to them.
What I wrote is about something deeper than just one false review. It’s about how Google now plays a role in violating basic human rights.
Yes, theoretically I could take the person to court for defamation. But here’s the problem: Google doesn’t ask for evidence. Google doesn’t even allow you to submit it.
We would be more than willing to present proof — screenshots, police reports, anything — even though, legally, under the presumption of innocence, we shouldn’t have to prove we’re not criminals. The burden of proof belongs to the accuser. But still — we tried. And we were denied even that chance.
Some might say, “Just make a new business profile.” But that means changing your company name, address, and years of hard-earned reputation. That’s not a solution — it’s a digital death sentence for small businesses.
Accusations like “theft” aren’t just comments — they’re weapons. And Google allows them to be fired without restraint or responsibility.
This post is not just about my case. It’s a call to pay attention to a larger problem — a platform with the power to destroy lives, but no interest in protecting truth.
Thank you again for not staying silent.