How to spot fake reviews

Fake praise and fake complaints both mislead buyers. These are the patterns to watch for on any review site, social media page or marketplace.

Updated 2026-11-11

Signs a review may be fake

• Many five-star reviews posted within a few days of each other, especially on a new business.
• Short, vague praise that could describe any business: “Best service ever, highly recommend!”
• Reviews that repeat the business name or the same phrases again and again.
• Reviewers with no profile history who have reviewed only this one business.
• Details that do not fit what the business sells or where it operates.

What genuine reviews usually look like

• They mention specifics: what was bought, when, how long delivery took, who they dealt with.
• They include small complaints even when the overall rating is high.
• They are spread out over time rather than arriving in one burst.

Read the business’s replies

How a business answers criticism tells you a lot. A calm reply that explains what happened and offers to fix it is a good sign. Attacking the reviewer, or never replying at all, is worth noting.

How NaijaTrust keeps reviews honest

Reviewers verify their email address and can review each business only once. Business accounts cannot post reviews, every review goes through automatic fraud checks, and anyone can report a review that looks fake. Businesses can reply to reviews but cannot pay to remove honest ones.