BusinessNov 5, 2026, 4:40 PM UTC·1 min read

Poland's UOKiK Fines Fake Review Sellers Over PLN 220,000

Poland's consumer watchdog UOKiK has imposed penalties totaling more than PLN 220,000 on companies that fabricated and sold fake online reviews.

A smartphone showing five-star ratings next to a gavel, symbolizing penalties for fake online reviews. — Image: Antyweb

The head of Poland's Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) has penalized businesses that made and sold fake online reviews. The fines total more than PLN 220,000.

According to the regulator, the targets were entities involved in fabricating and trading ratings and opinions on the internet. The decision is part of a broader push against a practice that distorts how shoppers judge products and services.

Why it matters

Online reviews are one of the main factors consumers weigh before buying, booking or hiring a service. When ratings are bought or invented, they mislead customers and put honest competitors at a disadvantage. A market for such reviews also makes it harder to tell genuine feedback from paid content.

The penalties send a signal to both sides of that market: companies that produce fake opinions and businesses that might be tempted to order them. For shoppers, the case is a reminder that a high star rating alone is not proof of quality.

What comes next

The material available so far does not name the penalized companies or detail the individual fines. Further information on the decisions and any appeals is expected to follow from the regulator.

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Tags:uokikfake reviewspolandconsumer protectiononline reviews