Online reputation management: does a cease and desist help against fake reviews?

[AriaGG]

I run a small local service business, and a competitor recently posted a series of fake negative reviews about us. We're working on online reputation management to push them down, but it feels like a constant game of whack-a-mole. Has anyone had success with a more proactive legal approach, like a cease and desist, or does that usually just escalate the situation?

[Andrew_W]

Cease and desist can set a boundary but it can backfire If you hire a lawyer have them draft a careful letter that names the false reviews and asks for removal if the platform policy is broken Avoid threats

[Layla69]

Gather solid evidence Links timestamps screenshots and a simple incident log show the pattern and impact Keep a file it helps if you sue later or negotiate

[JerryYS]

Report to the platforms Use their abuse report flows and attach the evidence It helps to document the issue even if not all reviews are removed

[JerryGJ]

Remember that opinions are protected but false factual claims can be defamation and this varies by state A local attorney can tell you if you have a case

[JohnJR]

Go proactive with review monitoring 2025 brand protection 2025 and social media monitoring 2025 Build real positive reviewer flow to push down fake posts and show the truth