Singapore Catches 45 Businesses Buying Fake Google Reviews From AI-Powered Service
What happened
Singapore's Competition and Consumer Commission (CCS) has taken action against 45 businesses caught buying fake Google reviews from a single provider — a company called Reputifly, which also operated under the names BuyReviewSG and GetReviewSG.
The operation, run by sole director Julian Tung Yan Kai, sold review packages to around 100 businesses. Clients could use a ratings calculator to work out how many five-star reviews they needed to hit their target Google rating, then pay for them to be posted over time. The service also used generative AI to write reviews designed to sound like real customer experiences.
Under the undertakings accepted on 30 September 2026, the 45 businesses must remove the fake reviews, stop the practice, and display public apologies for six months on their websites, social media, and physical premises. Reputifly must cease operations and donate its proceeds to charity.
Two businesses refused to give undertakings, and CCS said it could take stronger enforcement action against them. A second phase of the investigation is examining other businesses that may have used the service.
What this means for tradespeople
This is Singapore, not the UK — but the story matters here for three reasons.
First, it shows exactly what fake review operations look like in practice. A ratings calculator, AI-written reviews, drip-fed posting to avoid detection — this is the industrialised end of review fraud. The same services exist targeting UK businesses, and regulators here know it.
Second, the UK's own crackdown is already under way. The CMA opened five investigations into fake and misleading reviews in March 2026 under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act. The DMCCA makes posting fake reviews, hiding negative reviews, and presenting misleading star ratings automatically unlawful — with fines of up to 10% of global turnover, enforced without needing to go to court.
Third, the public apology requirement is brutal. Imagine having to display a notice on your van, your website, and your social media for six months saying you bought fake reviews. That alone should make any tradesperson think twice about taking a shortcut.
What to do about it
- Never buy reviews. It's unlawful under the DMCCA, and regulators are actively investigating. The risk isn't theoretical any more.
- Build reviews the right way. Ask every satisfied customer for a genuine Google review after the job. Tools like TapReview automate this with a WhatsApp or SMS message — no fake reviews needed.
- Report competitors who are faking it. If you suspect a local competitor is buying reviews, you can flag individual reviews on Google or report the business to the CMA.
Source: Business Today / CCS