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Trustpilot Group PLC - Copenhagen-based consumer review platform - Short-seller Grizzly Research LLC accuses the company of ‘mafia-style extortion campaigns against non-paying businesses’. In its report, Grizzly says its ‘opinions are held in good faith’ and its analysis is based on public information collected ‘in a manner that any person could have done if they had been interested in doing so’. Trustpilot denies Grizzly’s claim that it creates unsolicited review profiles to sell subscriptions. Says ‘Over 97% of businesses on the platform do not pay for a subscription. Consumers and businesses create profiles for free. 70% of reviews on free profiles are 5 stars.’ Also rejects claims that fake reviews are managed differently for paying and free businesses. ‘All businesses - whether free or paid - must comply with the same guidelines and are held to the same moderation principles,’ it says. Also denies that it has ‘traded the integrity of reviews for revenue’. ‘We have c.200 people focused on ensuring trust and integrity across our platform and have removed 6.7 million reviews from the platform so far this year. We have successfully brought lawsuits against bad actor businesses and review sellers,’ it says. Company adds: ‘The existence of black markets in fake reviews is not unique to Trustpilot and is one we are constantly fighting to reduce. Buying or selling fake reviews is illegal. When we identify that reviews have been purchased, we remove the reviews, sanction the business and, where they are a paying customer, terminate the relationship. We also report sellers and buyers to regulators or enforcement bodies. We have successfully brought lawsuits against bad actor businesses and review sellers and engage with the platforms the review sellers are advertising through.’ Current share price: 147.20 pence, closed up 14% in London on Friday 12-month change: down 50% Copyright 2025 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
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