Shopping guide

How to spot fake reviews before you buy

The FTC's red flags, what its fake-review rule bans, and what to check besides the star rating.

Updated October 13, 2026 · Everything below comes from the FTC's own pages, read on that date. The links are at the bottom.

The short answer

You usually can't spot a fake review by reading it. The FTC says so itself: fake reviews can look real, and it's often nearly impossible to tell for sure. What works better is looking at the pattern around the review: when it was posted, who wrote it, and whether a lot of reviews showed up at once. (FTC)

Red flags the FTC lists

(FTC)

What to check before you trust a review

  1. Check the dates. Look at how recent the reviews are.
  2. Check the reviewer's history. If they've written other reviews, read them to judge how much to trust this one.
  3. Consider the source. Think about who wrote it and what site or platform it's on. The FTC says well-known sites with impartial expert reviews are still a very good place to start.
  4. Think about incentives. You won't always know if a reviewer got something free or was otherwise rewarded. Some sites label incentivized reviews, and how much weight you give them is up to you.

(FTC)

What the FTC's fake-review rule bans

In August 2024 the FTC announced a final rule on fake reviews and testimonials. According to the FTC, it bans: (FTC)

The FTC's Q&A says the rule took effect October 21, 2024 and lets courts impose civil penalties for knowing violations. It also notes that ordinary consumers can't be held liable under it for what they say in reviews, that it creates no private right to sue, and that retailers that simply host customer reviews generally aren't liable unless they wrote or bought fake ones. (FTC) In practice that means the rule goes after the people who create and sell fake reviews, not the shoppers reading them, so you still have to do the checking.

A review isn't a price check

Even a real five-star review tells you the product worked for someone. It doesn't tell you whether you're paying too much. Two quick habits cover both: read the reviews for patterns, then compare the same model at other stores before you buy. Our guide on how to price check in a store shows how in about 30 seconds, and is this sale a good deal? covers “was” prices.

If you think a review is fake

The FTC's page doesn't describe reporting steps, but it links shoppers to ReportFraud.ftc.gov as the place to start. If you bought something because of a review you now think was fake, you can also contact the store or your card issuer about the purchase.

Check the price before it's in your cart

Price AI identifies a product from a photo or barcode, shows prices from major retailers, and gives you a Deal Score from 1–100, so you can see whether a well-reviewed product is cheaper somewhere else. You can filter new, used and refurbished listings and ask follow-up questions in the AI chat. Available on iPhone.

Get Price AI on the App Store →

Common questions

Are fake reviews illegal?

The FTC finalized a rule in 2024 banning fake or false consumer reviews and testimonials, including AI-generated ones, and buying or selling reviews. It lets the FTC seek civil penalties against knowing violators.

Can I tell a fake review by reading it?

Not reliably. The FTC says fake reviews can look real and it's often nearly impossible to tell for sure, so look at patterns: dates, reviewer history and bursts of reviews.

Could I get in trouble for writing an honest review?

The FTC's Q&A says ordinary consumers can't be held liable under the rule for what they say in reviews.

Where do I report a fake review?

The FTC points shoppers to ReportFraud.ftc.gov as the place to start.

Sources

Rules and guidance can change. Check the FTC's pages for the latest.

Related: is this sale a good deal?, is refurbished worth it?, and how to compare unit prices.

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