Online shopping can feel like a gamble. With so many choices out there, how do you know you’re buying a quality product? Reviews help, right? Well, not always. Fake reviews have become a sneaky tactic to lure shoppers into buying subpar items. They make a product look better than it is and leave you stuck with something you’ll regret purchasing. Luckily, there are telltale signs to separate the genuine reviews from the fake ones. Learning to spot these red flags will save you money and help you shop more wisely. Here are 10 ways to detect fake reviews and become a more informed online shopper.

1. Look for Over-the-Top Praise

Genuine reviews strike a balance. They’ll note the pros and might even point out some cons. Reviews that sound too good to be true, with nothing but glowing words, should make you pause. Phrases like “life-changing product” or “perfect in every way” often appear in fake reviews. These exaggerated claims stand out because real users rarely endorse items without some nuance or critique.

A new vacuum cleaner is unlikely to “change your whole life.” A real review might praise its suction power but mention that the cord could be longer. Be cautious of anything that seems overly enthusiastic.

2. Check for Generic Language

Fake reviews often lack specifics. Instead of describing personal experiences, they might seem vague or pre-written. Phrases like “this is the best product I’ve ever used” or “would highly recommend to anyone” could be red flags. Real reviews share details about the user’s experience, such as a memory foam mattress being great for side-sleepers or noting how the product performs over time.

Look for insights that reflect actual use. Someone reviewing sneakers might mention their comfort level during a workout or their durability after months of running. The absence of these details is a big indicator of a fake review.

3. Watch Out for Repetitive Phrases

Reviewers copying and pasting the same words across multiple posts is a common sign of fake reviews. These might come from “review farms” where companies hire people to increase their product ratings. Phrases like “high quality and great customer service” may appear word-for-word in dozens of reviews.

Scrolling through multiple comments on the same product often reveals this pattern. If five reviewers describe a skincare product as having the “perfect consistency and delightful fragrance” using nearly identical wording, you're probably dealing with fake feedback.

4. Look at the Reviewer’s History

Some sites allow you to click on a reviewer’s profile. Doing so can tell you a lot. Fake reviewers spam several products in a short period, often with unrelated categories. Someone raving about a power drill one day and a pet grooming kit the next might not be a trustworthy source.

A reviewer’s credibility increases if their history shows consistent niches or balanced feedback. If someone has 200 glowing reviews and no neutral or negative ones, that’s another warning sign. Genuine reviewers are less likely to give everything five stars.

5. Examine the Star Ratings

Products with a huge number of five-star reviews are worth investigating further. Fake reviews often inflate star ratings to create an illusion of reliability. Instead of trusting the overall score, focus on the four-star and three-star reviews. These typically provide more honest feedback, pointing out both the strengths and weaknesses of a product.

Balanced reviews and moderate ratings feel more real because they give context. Five-star reviews like “Best purchase of my life!” rarely include helpful information but are often injected to bump up a product’s popularity.

6. Verify with Multiple Platforms

Sticking to one website doesn’t always give you the full picture. Cross-checking reviews on multiple platforms makes it harder for fake feedback to sway your decision. Compare user opinions on Amazon with what people are saying at Best Buy, Walmart, or even Reddit.

Multiple perspectives reduce the chance of being misled by fake reviews. If one site has extremely positive reviews but another shows mixed feedback, it’s worth rethinking your purchase. Doing this research gives you a more balanced outlook.

7. Use Review Analysis Tools

Free tools like Fakespot or ReviewMeta can help spot suspicious reviews for you. These programs analyze review patterns, verify authenticity, and flag content that appears unreliable. They provide detailed breakdowns and alert shoppers to products with inflated ratings.

Fakespot grades products based on the proportion of fake vs. authentic reviews. Simply copy and paste the product’s URL onto their platform to get a clearer view of how trustworthy the reviews are.

8. Spot Unverified Purchases

Many websites, like Amazon, label reviews from customers who actually bought the product with “Verified Purchase.” Focus on these types of comments first. They’re not foolproof, but reviews from unverified users carry a much higher risk of being fake.

Fake reviewers frequently post without buying the item, and their feedback often contains inaccuracies or lacks useful details. On platforms that emphasize verified reviews, like Etsy or eBay, you’re more likely to find honest opinions.

9. Pay Attention to Timing

Timing plays a huge role in identifying fake reviews. A suspicious spike in reviews, particularly within a short period, often indicates foul play. This could happen right after a product launch or before major sales events, like Black Friday.

Spotting 50 glowing reviews uploaded in one week on a product only had a handful before might suggest manipulation. Genuine feedback builds gradually. Fake reviews often appear en masse, painting a distorted picture of the product’s quality.

10. Look for Balanced Criticism

It’s rare for a product to work perfectly for everyone. Reviews offering constructive criticism alongside praise seem more genuine. A positive review for a blender might still mention it being slightly noisy. Balanced feedback touches on the realities of using a product rather than just highlighting the good points.

On the other hand, fake reviewers ignore such nuances. Avoid trusting feedback that says “everything was flawless!” without adding specifics about features, usability, or potential drawbacks.