Trustpilot Review Abuse Warning: Fraudulent Investment Platforms Use Fake Praise to Mislead Investors

Scam investment companies are exploiting Trustpilot’s review system by posting fake five-star ratings to trick people into thinking they’re trustworthy, a report by verification firm KwikChex warns.

The investigation found that scammers use fake reviews, forged certificates, and stolen company identities to lure victims. Some even run networks of fake reviewers who praise multiple linked companies while attacking competitors.

Many of these firms operate cloned websites and display fake credentials. There’s also a growing market for paid reviews—positive or negative—sold online. Regulators like the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority have made it illegal to buy or host fake reviews. 

Trustpilot uses AI to detect fraud and removed 7.4% of reviews in 2024, up from 6.1% in 2023. Most were flagged and deleted automatically.

KwikChex has urged Trustpilot to stop using slogans like “find a company you can trust” and drop “verified” labels, warning that its system is too easily exploited.

A Trustpilot spokesperson told The Guardian that they take review integrity seriously and encourage users to report suspicious reviews.

In November 2024, the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) also warned about fake and misleading reviews on platforms like Trustpilot and Google Business.

BrokersView Reminder: Watch Out for Recovery Scams in Reviews

Scammers often post fake reviews offering “fund recovery” services. These reviews include email addresses or websites to lure victims of fraud into contacting them, which leads to bigger losses. The recovery offers are completely fake.

We often see such reviews when investigating brokers and urge investors to be extremely cautious. Always verify platform credentials before engaging.

If you suspect fraud, report it to BrokersView.