Tripadvisor removed 27 lakh reviews identified as fake in 2024. Here are the 10 countries that topped the paid review list
Glowing hotel reviews or expertly crafted lies? Tripadvisor's 2025 transparency report reveals a global network of paid reviews, with Indonesia and Vietnam leading the pack. As 2.7 million fake submissions are wiped clean, the data exposes how digital manipulation is shaping your next vacation—one suspicious star at a time.
Tripadvisor removed a jaw-dropping 2.7 million fake reviews in 2024, and the countries topping the paid review list might surprise you. From digital deception to review farms, the platform's latest report uncovers the dark underbelly of travel ratings—where trust is bought, and five stars may not mean what you think.
The next time you're planning a trip based on five-star ratings and glowing feedback, you might want to tread carefully. According to Tripadvisor's latest Transparency Report 2025, a staggering 2.7 million reviews submitted to the site last year were found to be fake.
And if that number doesn't alarm you, this might: nearly one in every 12 reviews posted on the platform in 2024 was identified as fraudulent. Even more revealing? The top sources of paid, fake reviews weren't limited to obscure corners of the internet — they came from countries you probably wouldn't expect.
Review or Racket? A Global Game of Digital Deception
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Fake reviews, it turns out, are no longer just the work of disgruntled customers or overenthusiastic fans. There's a growing underground economy of paid reviewers, often part of organized 'review farms,' whose job is to make average experiences look like paradise — or tank a rival's reputation.
In 2024, Tripadvisor removed more than 1 in 10 reviews from its site, and it flagged a significant portion for being incentivized or paid for. While the platform says it's improving its detection game, the sheer scale of fraudulent content is a stark reminder that online trust is up for sale.
Fake reviews are no longer just the work of disgruntled customers or overenthusiastic fans. There's a growing underground economy of paid reviewers
Countries Behind Most Paid Reviews
One of the most eye-opening findings of the report was a breakdown of paid reviews by country of origin. Indonesia and Vietnam alone accounted for more than one-third of all such submissions.
Here are the top 10 offenders when it comes to paid reviews:
Indonesia – 20.03% Vietnam – 14.06% United States – 8.89% Italy – 5.67% United Kingdom – 4.47% Pakistan – 3.60% Egypt – 3.11% India – 3.08% Russia – 2.54% Netherlands – 2.38%
Top 10 countries with fake reviews according to Tripadvisor's 2025 transparency report
While Asia dominated the paid review map, countries across Europe and North America were far from clean. And despite only 17% of all legitimate Tripadvisor reviews originating from Asia in 2024, the continent remains the epicenter for paid review submissions.
How Fake is Fake? Boosting, Vandalism, and Fraud
Tripadvisor classifies fake reviews into four distinct categories: boosting, where businesses write their own glowing reviews; vandalism, where rivals post negative feedback to hurt competitors; member fraud, where users post false content without direct influence; and paid reviews, the most malicious of all.
Interestingly, boosting (54%) and member fraud (39%) make up the bulk of fake reviews — not spiteful sabotage, as many might think.
Spotting the Scam: Not as Simple as Reading Between the Lines
Forget awkward grammar and generic praise — Tripadvisor says it's not what a review says, but how it's submitted, that raises red flags. The company uses a combination of AI, behavioral biometrics, and pattern detection to flag suspicious activity. That includes looking for IP masking, sudden submission spikes, and even the style in which reviews are written.
In a move that sounds more Mr. Robot than MasterChef, Tripadvisor investigators now pose as fake review brokers to catch scammers in the act. Once a fraudulent review is posted, the company traces its digital footprint across hundreds of data points to track repeat offenders.
What Happens to Cheaters? It's Not a Ban, But It Stings
The AI Twist: Not Fake, But Not Welcome (Yet)
Surprisingly, not all rejected reviews were fraudulent in the traditional sense. In 2024, over 200,000 reviews were taken down for being AI-generated.
Here's the twist — businesses caught cheating aren't kicked off Tripadvisor. Instead, they're punished algorithmically. Their rankings plummet for a year. Repeat offenders get a red badge slapped onto their listing that reads: 'This property is trying to deceive you.' Not exactly what you'd want hovering over your holiday rental in Rome.Surprisingly, not all rejected reviews were fraudulent in the traditional sense. In 2024, over 200,000 reviews were taken down for being AI-generated. Though not dishonest per se, Tripadvisor says it currently does not allow AI-assisted content — even if it's written by real travelers — to avoid a flood of repetitive, polished but soulless reviews.
Tripadvisor's report might sound like a success story in transparency, but the numbers also paint a troubling picture. With 31 million reviews submitted in a single year, even a 7–8% fraud rate represents millions of travelers being misled — potentially booking bad stays based on polished lies.
And while the company insists that its detection systems are improving, it also admits this is a never-ending chase. 'We might not catch a fake the first time,' said Becky Foley, the company's head of trust and safety, 'but we'll catch it eventually.'
Your Five-Star Stay Might Be a Five-Star Scam
So what does this mean for travelers? That postcard-perfect guesthouse might be a hidden gem — or a manufactured fantasy. As long as reputation can be monetized, fake reviews aren't going anywhere. The best defense? A healthy dose of skepticism, a wide reading of reviews, and maybe—just maybe—looking past the star rating.
Because in the world of digital tourism, sometimes the view is better than the reality.
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Tripadvisor removed 27 lakh reviews identified as fake in 2024. Here are the 10 countries that topped the paid review list
Glowing hotel reviews or expertly crafted lies? Tripadvisor's 2025 transparency report reveals a global network of paid reviews, with Indonesia and Vietnam leading the pack. As 2.7 million fake submissions are wiped clean, the data exposes how digital manipulation is shaping your next vacation—one suspicious star at a time. Tripadvisor removed a jaw-dropping 2.7 million fake reviews in 2024, and the countries topping the paid review list might surprise you. From digital deception to review farms, the platform's latest report uncovers the dark underbelly of travel ratings—where trust is bought, and five stars may not mean what you think. The next time you're planning a trip based on five-star ratings and glowing feedback, you might want to tread carefully. According to Tripadvisor's latest Transparency Report 2025, a staggering 2.7 million reviews submitted to the site last year were found to be fake. And if that number doesn't alarm you, this might: nearly one in every 12 reviews posted on the platform in 2024 was identified as fraudulent. Even more revealing? The top sources of paid, fake reviews weren't limited to obscure corners of the internet — they came from countries you probably wouldn't expect. Review or Racket? A Global Game of Digital Deception Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Fake reviews, it turns out, are no longer just the work of disgruntled customers or overenthusiastic fans. There's a growing underground economy of paid reviewers, often part of organized 'review farms,' whose job is to make average experiences look like paradise — or tank a rival's reputation. In 2024, Tripadvisor removed more than 1 in 10 reviews from its site, and it flagged a significant portion for being incentivized or paid for. While the platform says it's improving its detection game, the sheer scale of fraudulent content is a stark reminder that online trust is up for sale. Fake reviews are no longer just the work of disgruntled customers or overenthusiastic fans. There's a growing underground economy of paid reviewers Countries Behind Most Paid Reviews One of the most eye-opening findings of the report was a breakdown of paid reviews by country of origin. Indonesia and Vietnam alone accounted for more than one-third of all such submissions. Here are the top 10 offenders when it comes to paid reviews: Indonesia – 20.03% Vietnam – 14.06% United States – 8.89% Italy – 5.67% United Kingdom – 4.47% Pakistan – 3.60% Egypt – 3.11% India – 3.08% Russia – 2.54% Netherlands – 2.38% Top 10 countries with fake reviews according to Tripadvisor's 2025 transparency report While Asia dominated the paid review map, countries across Europe and North America were far from clean. And despite only 17% of all legitimate Tripadvisor reviews originating from Asia in 2024, the continent remains the epicenter for paid review submissions. How Fake is Fake? Boosting, Vandalism, and Fraud Tripadvisor classifies fake reviews into four distinct categories: boosting, where businesses write their own glowing reviews; vandalism, where rivals post negative feedback to hurt competitors; member fraud, where users post false content without direct influence; and paid reviews, the most malicious of all. Interestingly, boosting (54%) and member fraud (39%) make up the bulk of fake reviews — not spiteful sabotage, as many might think. Spotting the Scam: Not as Simple as Reading Between the Lines Forget awkward grammar and generic praise — Tripadvisor says it's not what a review says, but how it's submitted, that raises red flags. The company uses a combination of AI, behavioral biometrics, and pattern detection to flag suspicious activity. That includes looking for IP masking, sudden submission spikes, and even the style in which reviews are written. In a move that sounds more Mr. Robot than MasterChef, Tripadvisor investigators now pose as fake review brokers to catch scammers in the act. Once a fraudulent review is posted, the company traces its digital footprint across hundreds of data points to track repeat offenders. What Happens to Cheaters? It's Not a Ban, But It Stings The AI Twist: Not Fake, But Not Welcome (Yet) Surprisingly, not all rejected reviews were fraudulent in the traditional sense. In 2024, over 200,000 reviews were taken down for being AI-generated. Here's the twist — businesses caught cheating aren't kicked off Tripadvisor. Instead, they're punished algorithmically. Their rankings plummet for a year. Repeat offenders get a red badge slapped onto their listing that reads: 'This property is trying to deceive you.' Not exactly what you'd want hovering over your holiday rental in not all rejected reviews were fraudulent in the traditional sense. In 2024, over 200,000 reviews were taken down for being AI-generated. Though not dishonest per se, Tripadvisor says it currently does not allow AI-assisted content — even if it's written by real travelers — to avoid a flood of repetitive, polished but soulless reviews. Tripadvisor's report might sound like a success story in transparency, but the numbers also paint a troubling picture. With 31 million reviews submitted in a single year, even a 7–8% fraud rate represents millions of travelers being misled — potentially booking bad stays based on polished lies. And while the company insists that its detection systems are improving, it also admits this is a never-ending chase. 'We might not catch a fake the first time,' said Becky Foley, the company's head of trust and safety, 'but we'll catch it eventually.' Your Five-Star Stay Might Be a Five-Star Scam So what does this mean for travelers? That postcard-perfect guesthouse might be a hidden gem — or a manufactured fantasy. As long as reputation can be monetized, fake reviews aren't going anywhere. The best defense? A healthy dose of skepticism, a wide reading of reviews, and maybe—just maybe—looking past the star rating. Because in the world of digital tourism, sometimes the view is better than the reality.
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