A Minnesota dental office was recently investigated by the state for allegedly paying for fake five-star ratings online, Fox affiliate KMSP reported Feb. 4.
Kay Dean, a former federal investigator who runs consumer watchdog group Fake Review Watch, worked with KMSP to analyze reviews posted about Dentistry by Design in Minnetonka.
Ms. Dean told the news station businesses can pay for fake reviews through a global black market industry.
Several of the dental practice's reviews allegedly were found to have been posted by profiles that also reviewed businesses nearby as well as the same businesses in Florida and Australia, according to the report.
The reviews allegedly were removed after Ms. Dean spoke about them on her YouTube channel, KMSP reported.
The dental practice did not respond to the news station's requests for comment.
The Minnesota Board of Dentistry confirmed to KMSP that it also began investigating the practice.
Dentistry by Design declined to comment to Becker's.