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We are blackmailed with a Google Review Extortion scheme.
Have you ever heard of businesses being blackmailed through Google Reviews? That’s exactly what is happening to us at Sheiner Construction. We have been targeted by people who left fake 1-star reviews and then demanded money—$100 from one, $500 from another (and more such emails are coming)—in exchange for removing them. We want to make one thing clear: we will never pay for reviews, whether good or bad. These extortion attempts are not only dishonest, they are illegal, and we believe our clients and community deserve to know the truth. That’s why we’re sharing our story publicly, with real proof of what we’ve experienced.
Google Review Extortion for us, Sheiner Construction. [PROOF]
It started with a sudden wave of 1-star Google Reviews that didn’t match any of our real clients. The names were unfamiliar, the details vague, and the timing suspicious. These reviews appeared almost back-to-back, designed to damage our reputation online.
What made it even clearer was what came next: extortion emails demanding money to make the reviews “go away.” One attacker asked us for $100, another went as high as $500. The message was the same—pay us, or we’ll continue to attack your business with fake reviews.
At Sheiner Construction, we’ve worked hard for years to build trust in San Diego. Real clients know our work, and they know our team. Seeing these false reviews pop up, with no connection to actual projects, was both frustrating and alarming. The fact that strangers could try to use Google’s review system as a weapon against businesses like ours is unacceptable.
We also noticed that some of the fake accounts leaving reviews were connected to the same email addresses that later sent the extortion messages. This made the scheme obvious: create a problem, then demand payment as the “solution”. Instead of giving in, we decided to take a stand, collect evidence, and report everything.
Why We Refuse to Pay for Fake Reviews
When faced with blackmail, some remodeling businesses might feel pressured to pay just to make the problem go away. But at Sheiner Construction, that is something we will never do. Our company was built on integrity, trust, and the quality of our work.
Paying someone to remove fake Google Reviews would go against everything we stand for—and it would only encourage the scammers to keep doing it.
The truth is, paying extortionists doesn’t solve the problem. Once you give in, you show them that their tactics work. They may come back asking for more, or simply move on to the next victim. Either way, the cycle of review extortion continues. For us, the decision was clear: we’d rather face the fake reviews than compromise our values.
We also know that our real clients recognize the difference. Many of them have worked with us on construction projects across San Diego, and they know the level of professionalism we deliver. A random 1-star review with no details about a project doesn’t hold the same weight as a genuine testimonial from a satisfied homeowner or business client.
By refusing to pay, we’re making a statement—not just for ourselves, but for every honest business being targeted by fake accounts and review blackmail. Transparency and trust matter more than a temporary bump in star ratings.
The Impact of Fake Reviews on Our Business
Fake Google Reviews are more than just annoying—they have real consequences. At Sheiner Construction, our reputation is everything. Most people who search for a contractor in San Diego start by looking online, and star ratings can make the difference between a new client calling us or moving on to someone else.
When attackers flood our profile with fake 1-star reviews, it creates doubt for people who don’t know our history or haven’t worked with us yet.
The damage isn’t only public—it’s personal too. Our team invests time, energy, and passion into every project. Seeing fake accounts try to tear that down with lies is frustrating and stressful. Instead of focusing fully on building homes and serving our clients, we’ve had to waste hours collecting evidence, filing reports, and managing the fallout from these attacks.
The good news is that fake reviews don’t erase real ones. We have clients who have stood by us, leaving genuine feedback about their experience with our construction services. That support means far more than anything a scammer can write. The contrast is clear: real testimonials mention specific projects, results, and names, while fake reviews are vague, empty, and dishonest.
Ultimately, while these attacks have been disruptive, they won’t define us. What defines Sheiner Construction is the trust we’ve built over years, the homes we’ve completed, and the clients who know our work firsthand.
Taking Action: Reporting Google Review Extortion
Instead of staying silent or giving in, we chose to fight back. At Sheiner Construction, we immediately began documenting everything—the fake reviews, the emails, and the payment demands. Keeping records is critical, because without proof, it’s easy for attackers to hide behind fake accounts.
The first step we took was reporting the fraudulent reviews directly to Google. Their review policies clearly forbid extortion, spam, and fake content, but the system isn’t perfect. Some reviews remain visible while Google investigates, which is frustrating for any business owner. Still, submitting detailed reports, along with screenshots of extortion messages, increases the chances of action being taken.
We also looked beyond Google. Extortion is a crime, whether it happens in person or online. That’s why we reached out to local authorities and filed formal complaints. No one should get away with blackmail, and the more these cases are reported, the harder it becomes for scammers to target honest businesses.
For other remodeling companies in San Diego facing the same attacks, our advice is simple:
- Document everything — save emails, screenshots, timestamps.
- Report fake reviews to Google immediately.
- Contact authorities if there are direct money demands.
- Stay transparent with your clients—don’t hide what’s happening.
By speaking out and refusing to stay silent, we’re not only protecting ourselves—we’re showing that businesses can take a stand against review extortion.
How Fake Google Reviews Turn Into Extortion
The cycle of review extortion follows a pattern, and once you see it, it’s easy to recognize. Here’s how it played out against us, and how it often happens to other businesses:
Fake Reviews Posted
- Attackers create fake accounts with random names.
- They flood a business profile with negative 1-star Google Reviews.
- The goal: damage the company’s reputation and scare them into reacting.
Extortion Messages Sent
- Shortly after the reviews appear, the attackers contact the business directly.
- They demand money in exchange for deleting the reviews.
- The amount varies—$100, $500, sometimes even higher.
Pressure to Pay
- Attackers threaten that more fake reviews will come if the business refuses.
- They may use multiple accounts to make it seem like different people are attacking.
- The goal is to wear down business owners with stress and fear.
Long-Term Damage if Ignored
- Even if businesses don’t pay, the fake reviews can remain visible for weeks.
- Potential clients may second-guess hiring a company with a low star rating.
- The business wastes time and resources trying to fight something that should never exist in the first place.
Red Flags Businesses Should Watch For
- Reviews with no details about real services or projects.
- Multiple 1-star reviews arriving within hours or days.
- Reviewers with no history or only 1–2 total reviews.
- Emails or messages arrive right after suspicious reviews are posted.
This is exactly what happened to us—fake reviews first, then immediate demands for money. Instead of giving in, we decided to share our experience openly so other remodeling businesses can recognize the warning signs and protect themselves.
Review Extortion and Fake Accounts: A Growing Problem for Businesses
What happened to us at Sheiner Construction isn’t an isolated case. Across industries—restaurants, hotels, contractors, and even medical offices—businesses in San Diego are facing the same kind of Google Review extortion. Scammers use fake accounts to post damaging reviews and then demand money to remove them.
For small and local businesses in San Diego, even a handful of 1-star reviews can have a major impact on reputation and revenue.
These fake accounts often share the same traits: generic names, no profile photos, and little to no review history. In many cases, the reviews are vague and could apply to any business. Yet they sit alongside genuine reviews, confusing potential customers and dragging down ratings. This is what makes review extortion so dangerous—attackers weaponize platforms that were built to build trust.
Unfortunately, as long as it’s easy to create fake accounts online, this problem will keep growing. Google and other platforms are working to fight abuse, but scammers often move faster than the systems designed to stop them. That’s why San Diego remodeling businesses need to be alert.
We’ve also seen reports from other companies across the U.S. who’ve faced similar attacks, sometimes losing significant business before the fake reviews were removed. The message is clear: review extortion is not just our problem—it’s a growing threat for every honest business.
Conclusion
At Sheiner Construction, we’ve always believed that trust is the foundation of every successful project. That’s why we couldn’t stay silent when we were targeted with fake Google Reviews and direct demands for money. Extortion for reviews is not just unethical—it’s illegal, and it harms both businesses and the customers who rely on honest feedback to make decisions.
By refusing to pay, documenting every detail, and reporting the abuse to Google and the authorities, we’re standing firm in our values. We know our real clients, past and future, can see the difference between fake reviews written by strangers and genuine testimonials that reflect our work.
This issue is bigger than us. Review extortion is becoming a growing problem for many remodeling businesses in San Diego, and the only way to fight it is with transparency and collective action. That’s why we’ve shared our story openly, with proof, so others can recognize the signs and know they are not alone.
We’re proud of the remodeling work we do for our community here in San Diego, and no wave of fake reviews will ever erase that. To every honest business out there facing the same attacks—stand strong. Integrity matters more than a star rating, and together, we can push back against this kind of abuse.
