July 27, 2025

Fake Reviews, Real Damage: How Review Bombing Is Hurting Honest Small Businesses

By Bigfella Auto Express · 2 minute read

In today’s digital world, your online reputation can make or break your business — especially in industries like auto transport where trust is everything. Unfortunately, fake 1-star reviews have become a weapon used by competitors, denied carriers, or malicious actors to damage legitimate businesses.

At Bigfella Auto Express, we are currently dealing with an ongoing pattern of false reviews and harassment — and we believe it’s important to speak up, not just for ourselves, but for every small business affected by this rising trend.

The Pattern: Coordinated Fake Reviews

Just hours ago, a new review was posted under the name Scott Steven, stating:

"This broker cannot be trusted. My shipment has been stuck for several days, with no explanation. I have tried to contact them - but have received no response. It is incredibly frustrating."

This statement is completely false — and worse, it comes from a non-customer. Our internal records show no shipment, no name, and no contact attempt from any individual matching this identity.

After further review, we believe this account is part of a coordinated campaign of defamatory reviews submitted by parties we've previously blocked or refused to work with — including carriers that failed compliance checks such as valid insurance, driver ID, or cargo protection.

Why Fake 1-Star Reviews Matter

These aren’t just annoying. They’re harmful:

They erode public trust in real businesses providing high-quality service.
They skew Google rankings, potentially pushing honest businesses down the list.
They cause real financial damage in lost leads and reduced conversion rates.
They make it harder for customers to identify reliable brokers from bad actors.

As a licensed, FMCSA-verified broker with a strict vetting process for carriers, we enforce high standards to protect our customers. That means some carriers don’t get approved. Some retaliate. And they use fake reviews to do it.

What We’re Doing About It

We are actively responding to these attacks with:

Police Reports: Each incident is being documented. A report has been filed with the Houston Police Department – Case #082225425-D.
Digital Forensics: We are collecting metadata, timestamps, and IP patterns to identify related accounts.
Legal Action: Our legal team is preparing suits against specific individuals and businesses, including those tied to repeated review bombing.
Press & Awareness Campaigns: We are working with media outlets to expose this trend and protect consumers and business owners alike.

How We Protect Real Customers

Despite these distractions, our mission hasn’t changed: to provide honest, fast, and transparent vehicle shipping services across the U.S.

✅ Verified FMCSA-compliant carriers
✅ Live dispatch and real-time tracking
✅ Phone and email support with actual people
✅ No bait-and-switch pricing

We don’t hide behind fake reviews or anonymous usernames — we stand behind our work and welcome accountability.

Our Message to Customers

If you're reading a 1-star review, ask yourself:

Does it sound vague or overly dramatic?
Does the reviewer have no history, no details, or no proof?
Do multiple accounts post similar wording?

These are all red flags. And if you're ever unsure — just call us. We’ll always tell you the truth about our process, our team, and your vehicle.

A Message to Other Small Businesses

To any other small business owner facing fake reviews: you're not alone. Document everything, respond professionally, and don’t be afraid to take legal steps. These review bombers count on silence — don’t give it to them.