{
  "id": 17106594,
  "title": "Restaurateurs fend off fake online review 'extortion' attempt",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/29/restaurateurs-fend-off-fake-online-review-extortion-attempt",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-29T18:59:47.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News AU",
    "slug": "abc-news-au",
    "url": "https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-10-30/adelaide-restaurant-negative-review-extortion-scam-google/107319834"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Adelaide restaurateurs Denisse Rojas-Valdez and David Valdez were targeted by a fake online review extortion attempt. The couple owns Que Onda Wey! Mexican restaurant in Goodwood, which had enjoyed a perfect 4.9 rating on Google. A negative review appeared, followed by emails offering to remove the review for a fee. Rojas-Valdez ignored the initial emails but eventually blocked and reported the senders. Another negative review followed, falsely claiming the restaurant was overpriced compared to a non-existent hot pot restaurant nearby. The scammers claimed they could remove the reviews for a price. Rojas-Valdez gathered evidence and followed Google's instructions to have the reviews removed. She reported the scam to the police and Scamwatch. Google removed the offending reviews but confirmed a few others remained on the platform. The couple received community support and had their rating restored to 4.9.",
  "summary": "The owners of a Mexican restaurant in Adelaide noticed their Google review rating had fallen, and shortly afterwards started receiving emails from a company offering to remove poor reviews — for a price.",
  "key_points": [
    "Adelaide restaurateurs targeted by fake online review extortion attempt.",
    "Negative review falsely claimed overpriced compared to non-existent hot pot restaurant.",
    "Google removed offending reviews, restoring the couple's 4.9 rating."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}