How does Google detect fake reviews?

Short answer

Google uses automated systems and human review to spot patterns that signal fake or policy-violating reviews — suspicious account behavior, review bursts, repetitive text, and known spam signals — and removes them, often in bulk.

Signals it watches

• Sudden spikes of reviews or coordinated posting.
• Accounts with fake or throwaway characteristics.
• Duplicated or templated review text.
• Reviews tied to incentives or paid networks.

This is exactly why buying or faking reviews backfires — the systems are built to catch it. The durable path is genuine reviews earned from real customers, which no filter will strip away.