How to spot fake reviews

Practical signs of fake or bought reviews on any marketplace, and what makes a review trustworthy.

Zinn Hub®'s review guidelines, covering what a review may and may not contain

Check that the reviewer really bought

The strongest signal is whether a review can only be written after a real purchase. On Zinn Hub® a marketplace review requires a completed order; on open platforms such as Trustpilot and Google anyone with an account can post, so each review there deserves more scrutiny.

Look for specifics

Genuine reviews usually mention what was ordered, how long it took and one thing that went well or badly. A run of short, interchangeable praise — “great work, recommended” — says little on its own.

Watch the timing

A sudden burst of five-star reviews in a few days, on a service that had few before, can mean reviews were traded or bought. Look at the dates as well as the stars.

Read the low ratings too

Every seller gets an occasional bad review. How the seller responds, and whether the complaints repeat the same problem, tells you more than the average does.

Compare several sources

Marketplace reviews, independent review platforms and published testimonials each have different rules about who can post. When they broadly agree, you can trust the picture more.

Report what looks wrong

Zinn Hub® prohibits fake reviews, self-reviews, review trading and extortion. If a review on zinnhub.com looks fake, report it to Zinn Hub® support with the review and your reason.

All Zinn Hub® reviews Zinn Hub® reviews: frequently asked questions