menu
Weekly Online Magazine
ISSN 2544-5839
zamknij
Work In Media image

14.04.2025 Marketing and PR

When a Review Lies. The Growing Threat of Fake Opinions Online

KFi

Popularity of digital marketplaces rises, so does a less welcome trend: fake reviews. These manipulated opinions distort product rankings and mislead consumers, all while unfairly disadvantaging honest businesses. And despite regulatory efforts, the problem is far from solved.
Poczytaj artykuł wydanie polskie w wydaniu polskim

When a Review Lies. The Growing Threat of Fake Opinions Onlineillustration: DALL-E

According to the latest survey by TRUSTMATE.io from Poland, more than a third of respondents (39%) believe they’ve encountered fake reviews online. Even more alarming? One in four admits they can’t tell the difference between genuine feedback and fabricated praise. It’s not just an annoyance - it’s a sign of how sophisticated these deceitful techniques have become.

Have you encountered fake reviews about companies or products online? %
Rather yes 20.9%
Definitely yes 18.1%
Rather not 27.0%
Definitely not 9.5%
I don`t know 24.5%
source: TrustMate.io, March 2025


Fake Reviews. Are We Being Fooled?


The numbers tell an interesting story. Men are more likely than women to report encountering fake reviews: 44.2% of men compared to 34.3% of women. Women, on the other hand, are more uncertain - 28.4% selected “I don’t know,” compared to 20.2% of men. Does this mean women are more cautious, or are the fakes simply harder to detect?

Apparently, it does. People with higher education are more likely to firmly state that they’ve encountered fake reviews (23%) than those with only primary education (18.9%). However, those with secondary education were the most unsure, often selecting "I don’t know" as their answer.

This trend suggests that while higher education may increase critical thinking, it might also heighten awareness of how difficult it is to spot a fake among the real.


Urban Legends. Age and City Size and Review Awareness


Where you live might affect your review radar. Respondents from major cities (over 500,000 residents) are the most likely to say “definitely yes” to spotting fake reviews. Meanwhile, people in towns between 20,000 and 49,000 residents seem the most skeptical, with the highest rate of “rather not” responses.

The level of uncertainty peaks in cities with 100,000–199,000 people, where nearly 30% say they just don’t know. Urban anonymity or digital overload? The data leaves room for interpretation.

Young adults (18–34 years old) are the most likely to believe they’ve seen fake reviews. Interestingly, the certainty of encountering manipulation declines with age, while skepticism and uncertainty grow. The oldest respondents (65+) often choose “definitely not” or “I don’t know.” Perhaps digital natives are just more attuned to online traps - or maybe older generations are more trusting?

What Can We Do?


TRUSTMATE.io`s report underscores a growing need for vigilance. Consumers must sharpen their critical thinking, and platforms need to double down on authentication tools. Reviews remain a key part of online decision-making - but the real value lies in knowing which ones to trust.

Survey conducted in Poland by UCE Research on behalf of TRUSTMATE.io, March 2025, using a representative CAWI sample of 1008 Polish respondents.More data: https://TrustMate.io

Share the article:

dodaj na Facebook prześlij przez Messenger dodaj na Twitter dodaj na LinkedIn

COMMERCIAL BREAK
Work In Media

New articles in section Marketing and PR

Rising Google Ads click costs. How to keep campaigns profitable?

Patrycja Kranc
In 2024 the average cost per click (CPC) rose in 86% of industries. In e-commerce and real estate, increases reached dozens of percent. Optimisation is becoming crucial, not only for campaigns but for the entire customer acquisition process.

The future of search is now. How AI is reshaping brand visibility

KFi
AI Search and Share of Voice are no longer optional marketing metrics. They’re essential. Yet only 7% of Polish companies use AI. In the new search landscape, that’s nowhere near enough. Fall behind now, and your brand could simply... vanish from the internet.

More AI bots in customer service. However, Poles want people

Andrzej Sowula
Over three quarters of Poles (75.9%) have already had contact with a bot in a customer service department and nearly one in four is satisfied with this service. This means an increase of 7.7% over the past two years. At the same time, only 8.1% of Poles fully trust the bots serving them.


See articles on a similar topic:

Child's sleepless nights? Educator suggests solutions for parents

patronat Reporterzy.info
Sleepless nights lead to fatigue, frustration, and worries about potential health issues for the child. Fortunately, most sleeping problems can be resolved by introducing appropriate habits and routines that help achieve a peaceful, restorative sleep.

What to do when a child bites nails? Advice from a child psychologist

patronat Reporterzy.info
For children, nail-biting is often a way to cope with boredom or stress. However, our role is to intervene when we notice this habit, not only for aesthetic reasons but also to address potential underlying causes. What might these be, and what can we do?

Predictive Analytics in Ads. Customer Doesn’t Know Yet, But Ad Does

Krzysztof Fiedorek
Artificial intelligence is changing the rules of marketing. Predicting customer behaviors through advanced AI algorithms and making data-driven decisions is already the present. The report "The State of AI," published by McKinsey, shows the impact this will have on the advertising and marketing industry.

Advertising Without Cookies. Is the Industry Ready for a Digital Revolution?

Krzysztof Fiedorek
The year 2024 was set to bring a revolution to the advertising industry as Google announced the removal of cookies in the Chrome browser for millions of users, sparking the beginning of a cookie-free era. However, Google’s change of heart surprised the market. A report on this topic was prepared by analysts from ID5.

More in the section: Marketing and PR

Work in media

United States
New York • Washington DC • Los Angeles • Chicago • Houston • Phoenix • Philadelphia United Kingdom
London • Birmingham • Manchester • Liverpool • Glasgow • Edinburgh Canada
Toronto • Ottawa • Montreal • Calgary Australia
Sydney • Melbourne • Brisbane • canberra Ireland, New Zealand, India

advertisement

Drones. For PRO. On discount




community

Facebook LinkedIn X Twitter TikTok Instagram Threads Youtube Google News Blue Sky Social RSS

Reporterzy.info - online media studies magazine. The world of communication from the inside. Media, journalism, PR and marketing. Data, reports, analyses, advice. History and market, law, photography, job offers.



Reporter shopping

Reporter shopping

Affordable laptops, notebooks and netbooks
Affordable laptops, notebooks and netbooks
for writing
Digital SLR and compact cameras
Digital SLR and compact cameras
for photographers
Books and e-books about media
Books and e-books about media
for reading
Video drones and flying cameras
Video drones and flying cameras
for pilots
Gimbals for stabilizing video
Gimbals for stabilizing video
for those on the move
Software and apps for creative work
Software and apps for creative work
for digital creators
More occasions

follow us 👉 on Youtube
Watch more 👇
#4Lines 4 a Good(?) Morning SHORTS
Read books and e-books

Read books and e-books

Okładka Media Control. The Spectacular Achievements of Propaganda
Media Control. The Spectacular Achievements of Propaganda
Okładka The 40-Day Social Media Fast
The 40-Day Social Media Fast
Okładka Social Media Marketing All-in-One For Dummies
Social Media Marketing All-in-One For Dummies
Okładka Mass Communication: Living in a Media World
Mass Communication: Living in a Media World
Okładka Beyond The Feed: A Social Media Success Formula
Beyond The Feed: A Social Media Success Formula
Okładka Hate, Inc.: Why Today`s Media Makes Us Despise One Another
Hate, Inc.: Why Today`s Media Makes Us Despise One Another
more books and e-books

Reporterzy.info

More about us

Our tools and services

Contact


© Dwornik.pl Bartłomiej Dwornik 2oo1-2o25