PR in the Philippines

Dublin, Ireland – August 21, 2025 – A prominent provider of residential and commercial cleaning services in Dublin, has issued a public statement addressing a recent incident. This involved a sequence of deceptive 1-star Google reviews which were then followed by a direct request for payment in exchange for their removal.

The situation unfolded earlier this week when Happy Clean’s Google Business Profile unexpectedly received several low-star ratings from individuals whose names were not found in the company’s client records. These reviews were indistinct and provided no concrete job references or past client interactions.

Soon after the reviews appeared, the company received a WhatsApp message from an international contact, proposing to “resolve” the issue by deleting the negative reviews and substituting them with positive ones – in exchange for a fee. The sender further presented “package deals” and complimentary trial fake reviews, suggesting a structured plan for reputation manipulation.

“This is an unprecedented situation for us,” stated Livia, a Director at Happy Clean. “Our business has been built on trust over the past decade, and our online reputation genuinely reflects years of dedicated, honest effort. This attempt to extort payment for fabricated reviews is profoundly unethical and unlawful“.

Happy Clean promptly reported both the reviews and the linked WhatsApp number to Google, as well as to the appropriate consumer protection agencies. The company has also publicly addressed each review on its Google profile, clarifying that the reviewers are not recognized as clients and the feedback seems to be deceptive.

Documentation, including screenshots of the communication and the reviews, was provided to law enforcement and Google’s support team. The extortion message, delivered via WhatsApp, proposed manipulating online review scores and reinstating the company’s 5-star average in return for unspecified amounts of money.

“This concern extends beyond just our company,” Livia elaborated. “It’s crucial for safeguarding consumers and local enterprises from digital coercion. If allowed to continue, this form of manipulation erodes public confidence in the authenticity of all online reviews“.

Happy Clean has long held a reputation as one of Dublin’s most esteemed cleaning services, distinguished by its transparent practices and authenticated customer testimonials. The company recently received the “Most Trusted Carpet Cleaning Services 2025 – Dublin” award from the EU Irish Enterprise Awards, an accolade based on impartial research and client confidence.

Review extortion—a practice where external parties publish fabricated reviews to harm a company’s standing, subsequently demanding payment to undo the harm—is an increasing worry for small businesses globally. Although review platforms such as Google provide mechanisms for reporting, incidents of this nature underscore the necessity for enhanced verification and response frameworks.

In a bid to promote transparency, Happy Clean has also shared information on its YouTube channel, detailing the incident and advocating for greater awareness regarding review manipulation schemes aimed at local cleaning businesses.

Previous clients of Happy Clean are encouraged to submit authentic reviews to assist in counteracting this deceptive activity. The company reaffirms its policy of having never compensated for positive reviews and states it will not engage in any unethical practices that distort its reputation.

“We prefer to maintain a 4.9 rating earned through genuine, honest customer experiences rather than artificially boosting it with purchased endorsements,” Livia remarked. “Our integrity is paramount and non-negotiable“.

The company has urged the public to report any suspicious reviews or communications related to extortion attempts and has pledged ongoing transparency with its clients and stakeholders throughout the investigation.

About Happy Clean
Happy Clean, established in 2013, is a professional cleaning company located in Dublin, Ireland, providing an extensive array of services such as residential, commercial, carpet, and post-construction cleaning. The company has cultivated a solid reputation for dependability, professionalism, and ethical conduct. Happy Clean is dedicated to ensuring client satisfaction and is recognized as a premier cleaning service provider in Dublin.