Thinking of Posting Fake Positive Online Reviews? Think Again!

[Joshua Dorkin]

Both Federal and State Governments are starting to take seriously the wild-west that is review sites and all else online, where companies have been using shills, paid reviews, and other tactics to spread positive information about their businesses falsely.

As I live and breathe, the day has finally come where this nonsense begins to end. Check these out:

• Fake Online Reviews Cost 19 Companies $350,000
• Give Yourself 5 Stars? Online, It Might Cost You

Since inception, we've had a ZERO tolerance policy here on BiggerPockets for shills and have tossed countless dozens of people and companies from the site for shilling. That said, going forward, we've got another tool at our disposal -- the law.

In the future, anyone suspected of posting shill positive reviews will not only lose their accounts here on the site, but we will be forwarding your information to the authorities as well.

Obviously the fake positive reviews are at the center of my concerns, however we do also concern ourselves about the false negative ones too. Please make sure that if you're leaving a review of any kind -- positive or negative, that you're doing so based on fact or personal experience.

Finally, for more information on this from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), see:

• FTC Publishes Final Guides Governing Endorsements, Testimonials

[Dev Horn]

It's good business to have a ZERO DECEPTION policy - including not just reviews but marketing, in general. Our industry (RE investing) has too many people that make too many outrageous claims. Honestly, sometimes it is challenging to compete with others that use hyperbole and deception - but we must not lower ourselves to their level. Integrity is the key to long-term business success.

“If I take care of my character, my reputation will take care of me.” ~ Dwight L. Moody