When Money Talks: Should You Trust Paid Reviews?

Have you ever heard something like:

“Leave a 5-star review and get a discount”

"If you are not so familiar with technology, don't worry, let me help you post it"

Sounds helpful, right? But does it really help ???

In Hanoi, tattoo culture is booming — and so is the race to the top of Google. When searching for “best tattoo shop in Hanoi,” you’ll likely look at star ratings first. But here’s the truth most won’t say out loud: not all 5-star reviews are real.

Some tattoo studios are pulling in 4–5 perfect reviews per day, which might look impressive—until you realize how easy it is to buy or manipulate them. Behind the curtain, fake reviews are cheap, easy to generate (even with AI), and shockingly common.

Fake Reviews Are Everywhere — And Easy to Buy

A recent investigation called “How Much We Paid for FAKE Google Reviews?” exposes how widespread and cheap fake reviews have become:

• Cheap to buy: Reviews can be purchased for as little as $0.80 each, especially in bulk.

• Written by AI or freelancers: Some are written by low-paid workers for $1, while others are generated entirely by AI—smooth, polished, and nearly undetectable.

• Fake profiles with stock photos: Many of these fake reviewers have fake names, no history, and profile images taken from stock photo sites — including one that used a picture of a famous Ethiopian model.

If that sounds bad—it gets worse.

How Fake Reviews Are Fabricated

The methods vary, but here are the most common tricks:

• Human-written reviews: Businesses hire people to write positive reviews manually, often overseas, for cheap.

• AI-generated content: The investigation showed that entire fake reviews can now be generated by artificial intelligence, making them sound convincingly real.

• Use of stock images and fake accounts: Fake reviewers often use generic names (like Linh P. or Tom A.), stock profile pictures, and accounts with no real activity.

• Unrealistic reviewer behavior: One fake reviewer gave glowing feedback to a dentist in LA, an IT firm in Canada, and a Vietnamese restaurant — all within a week. That kind of spread is a clear sign of a review farm.

What to Look Out For in Tattoo Shops

When it comes to tattoos, fake reviews aren’t just misleading — they can put you at serious risk. Here’s how to spot them:

• Too many 5-star reviews too fast: If a shop suddenly gains 20–30 glowing reviews in one week, it may not be organic.

• Generic praise, no substance: Real clients usually mention their artist, style, or experience. Fakes say “great service” or “amazing tattoo” with no details.

• Suspicious reviewer activity: Watch out for reviewers who rate businesses in different countries and unrelated industries.

• Stock photo profiles: Glossy, professional-looking avatars? Often fake. Real users tend to use casual or personal photos.

Why This Matters

Choosing a tattoo studio isn’t like choosing a lunch spot. You’re making a permanent decision. And while a bad meal is temporary, bad ink, poor hygiene, or an unskilled artist can have long-lasting consequences.

And fake reviews don’t just prop up bad studios—they bury the good ones who play fair.

More Tricks Tattoo Studios May Use

Some dishonest tattoo studios don’t even need to pay for reviews — they just manipulate real customers:

“Leave a 5-star review and get a discount”
This is common and unethical. Real feedback should never come with strings attached.

“Let me help you post it”
Some shops will literally ask to take your phone — and write the 5-star review for you. That’s not a recommendation, that’s manipulation.

At Silver Ant Tattoo, We Do Things Differently

At Silver Ant Tattoo, we don’t care about collecting quick 5-star ratings. We care about something deeper: how your tattoo looks and feels after it’s fully healed.

That’s why we never ask for same-day reviews. Instead, we reach out to clients months later — once the tattoo has gone through the healing process, settled into the skin, and become part of your body.

 When the time is right, we’ll simply ask:

“Can you send us a photo? How do you feel about your tattoo now?”

This is the kind of review that matters to us. Honest, thoughtful, and based on real experience — not studio lighting and fresh ink.
That’s the ultimate legit review.

Because a tattoo should still make you proud months or years after you walk out the door — not just look flashy on the day it’s done.

What You Can Do as a Smarter Customer

• Read reviews carefully — look for specific names, design details, and healed results.

• Click on reviewer profiles — check if they’re real people, or fake accounts reviewing random businesses.

• Look for healed work — not just fresh tattoos on social media (very important). See our healed work album

• Ask the artist questions — especially about safety, aftercare, and healed results.

• Compare across platforms — check Instagram, Facebook, or Reddit communities for extra feedback.

  

   

The “Honest Lamp” Experiment

The creators of the video even ran a test. They created a fake product called “Honest Lamp”, paid for 61 fake 5-star reviews, and watched it climb to a perfect Google rating — in just days. No real product, no real customers, just a bought reputation.

This shows how fragile and fakeable Google’s review system can be.

See video: How Much We Paid For FAKE Google Reviews?

Final Thoughts: Real Ink Over Fake Stars

Hanoi is full of talented, hardworking tattoo artists. But some studios are taking shortcuts — using fake reviews to climb the ranks while others rely on skill, safety, and consistency.

So don’t be fooled by a wall of 5-star ratings.

Look deeper. Ask questions. Wait to see how a tattoo heals, not just how it looks when fresh.
And when you’re ready to leave a review — make it count.