Technique
Review Manipulation
Also known as: Fake Reviews, Review Bombing, Review Fraud, Brushing Scam, Review Farming, Rating Manipulation, Fleeceware Reviews
MANIPULATION
Flooding platforms with fake positive reviews or suppressing negative ones to boost scam products, fraudulent sellers, or malicious apps.
Common attack flows
How it fits in a scam
This technique shows up duringMANIPULATION
Defense
How to defend against this
How to spot it
- Cluster of 5-star reviews posted within short timeframe
- Generic vague praise without specific product details
- Reviewer history shows reviews for unrelated product categories
- Identical phrases appearing across multiple reviews
- Sudden spike in reviews for previously obscure product
- Reviewer profile has no other reviews or only reviews same brand
- Reviews mention free product or received in exchange
- Excessive use of first-person pronouns and scene-setting language
- Third-party tools like Fakespot or ReviewMeta flag as suspicious
- Unsolicited package arrives indicating brushing scam using your name
- App store reviews mention no specific features just generic praise
- Verified purchase badge missing on majority of positive reviews
Further reading