# How to reply to anonymous or 'A Google user' reviews

> Reviewers who hide their name still deserve a reply. How to respond when you can't personalise by name, and when to flag as suspicious.

_Updated 2026-07-21 · By Elizabeth Davis_

Source: https://happyreplies.com/how-to/reply-to-anonymous-reviews

## TL;DR

Reply as normal — skip the name greeting, keep everything else. If the review makes claims that don't match any record you have, address the feeling publicly and invite them to email so you can verify.

## Overview

'A Google user' is Google's placeholder when reviewers hide their real name. It's not by itself a red flag — plenty of genuine reviewers use it — but it removes your personalisation lever.

## Steps

### 1. Drop the name, keep the specifics

'Thanks for the visit — glad the pasta hit.' Personalise through the detail, not the greeting.

### 2. If suspicious, ask factually

'We can't find a matching booking for that date — please email so we can look into it.' No accusations.

### 3. Flag policy-breaking anonymous reviews

Anonymous reviews follow the same policy rules — flag through Google Business Profile if they break them.

## FAQ

### Are anonymous reviews always fake?

No — plenty of real customers hide their name. Judge by the specifics of the review, not the display name.