In Sydney, Gina, the owner of Move It With Gina and a single mother of six, has fallen victim to a scam aimed at tarnishing her business’s online reputation. Having built her removalist company over the past 11 years, Gina was shocked when a sudden influx of negative one-star reviews flooded her business’s profile. After expanding her operations and investing in a truck to better serve her clients, she was unprepared for the attack that occurred just four days ago, with negative reviews posted in rapid succession.
Upon investigation, Gina discovered that many of the reviewers were fictitious, with no record of her having serviced these individuals. Shortly thereafter, Gina began receiving suspicious text messages. One such message stated, “I have received an order for posting thirty bad reviews on your business. Now he is ignoring my message; please pay my loss of $60. Otherwise, I’m going to post more one-star reviews.” Despite the intimidation, Gina opted to ignore the demands.
Cybersecurity expert Simon Smith noted that there are several indicators of fraudulent reviews, such as the use of vague language and a sudden wave of negative feedback. He emphasised that succumbing to extortion is never advisable. For Gina, the process of removing the bogus reviews proved arduous, taking several days before any action was taken. Efforts by 9News to contact the scammer, who is believed to be operating from overseas, have gone unanswered.
This troubling incident highlights the risks small business owners face in the digital age, where reputation can be manipulated through deceitful tactics. Gina remains resilient as she continues to fight for her business amidst these challenges.