In brief

• UOKiK has penalised R4E, two people who managed it, and entrepreneur Paweł Gil for selling fake online reviews.
• The combined penalties exceed 220,000 zloty.
• The fake reviews were reportedly sold for Google, Facebook, and medical and travel portals, including Znany Lekarz and Tripadvisor.

Fines total more than 220,000 zloty

The president of the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection has imposed penalties on the firm R4E, two people who managed it, and entrepreneur Paweł Gil. The sanctions concern paid services that published inauthentic opinions about businesses online. The combined amount is above 220,000 zloty (Prezes UOKiK nałożył ponad 220 tys. zł kar za publikowanie fałszywych opinii w internecie – Puls Biznesu) (Oferowali fałszywe opinie w internecie. UOKiK nakłada kary – Wirtualnemedia.pl).

How the scheme worked

According to UOKiK, R4E ran a website called Reviewagency.eu, which is no longer operating. Through it, customers could order positive reviews to be posted on well-known platforms. The office says the reviews appeared on Google and Facebook, as well as on medical and travel services (Opinie, którym nie można ufać. Kolejne decyzje Prezesa UOKiK – UOKiK).

The regulator noted that such reviews mislead consumers who rely on them when choosing a product, a repair shop or a doctor. Recommendations based on fabricated ratings can push buyers toward worse choices and distort competition between honest and dishonest sellers.

Medical and travel portals affected

Reports list Znany Lekarz and Tripadvisor among the portals where positive ratings could be bought (Handlowali recenzjami w serwisach Znany Lekarz i Tripadvisor. UOKiK nałożył kary – se.pl). Patients choosing a specialist and travellers choosing hotels or restaurants are the groups most exposed to this kind of manipulation.

What consumers can do

Before relying on a rating, readers should check whether the reviews look varied in wording and dates, whether a platform shows the reviewer's history, and whether the same praise repeats across many accounts. Unusually high ratings from accounts with few other activities are a common warning sign.

Consumer tips

UOKiK publishes guidance on safe online shopping and invites people to report unfair practices through its website.