Fake healthcare reviews may appear more credible to patients than genuine reviews because they provide detailed personal health narratives, according to new research. The study, published in Internet Research, analyzed 35,000 healthcare reviews collected between 2015 and 2017, covering specialties ranging from family medicine to dentistry and dermatology. Researchers verified 8,313 fake reviews posted by healthcare providers and associated clinic staff, including instances in which individuals allegedly impersonated patients. The reviews were generated by exploiting a security flaw in an online platform that invited patients to leave reviews after appointments.

A representative random sample of 5,000 reviews was analyzed further. Fake reviews were found to be longer than genuine reviews and included greater detail about symptoms, diagnoses, medications, and treatment. These reviews also…