Discovering that your website is under a negative SEO attack can be alarming. Whether it’s toxic backlinks, scraped content, or fake reviews, knowing how to properly report negative SEO to Google and other platforms is crucial for protecting your online presence.
This guide walks you through exactly how to report negative SEO attacks, what information you need, and the steps to take for maximum protection.
What is Negative SEO?
Negative SEO refers to malicious tactics used by competitors or bad actors to harm your website’s search engine rankings. Common negative SEO tactics include:
- Toxic backlink attacks: Building thousands of spammy, low-quality links to your site
- Content scraping: Duplicating your content across multiple websites
- Fake reviews: Posting negative reviews on Google My Business or review sites
- Hacking: Injecting malware or spam into your website
- Link removal: Requesting removal of your legitimate backlinks
If you’ve noticed sudden ranking drops, suspicious backlinks, or unusual traffic patterns, you may be under attack.
Step 1: Document the Negative SEO Attack
Before reporting, gather evidence of the attack:
For Toxic Backlinks:
- Export your backlink profile from Google Search Console (Links section)
- Use tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Moz to identify suspicious domains
- Take screenshots of spam anchor text patterns
- Note the dates when spammy links appeared
- Document sudden spikes in referring domains
For Content Scraping:
- Use Copyscape or Google Search to find duplicate content
- Screenshot the scraped pages with timestamps
- Note the URLs and domains hosting your content
- Check publication dates to prove yours was first
For Hacking:
- Check Google Search Console for security issues
- Document malware warnings or spam injections
- Save server logs showing unauthorized access
Step 2: Report Negative SEO to Google
Google takes negative SEO seriously. Here’s how to report it:
Option A: Google Search Console (For Webmasters)
- Log into Google Search Console
- Navigate to Help → Send Feedback
- Select “Send Feedback” in the bottom right
- Describe your negative SEO issue clearly:
“My site [yourdomain.com] is experiencing a negative SEO attack. I’ve noticed [specific issue: e.g., 5,000+ toxic backlinks from spam domains] starting on [date]. I’ve already disavowed these links and request Google review this attack.”
- Attach screenshots of the spammy backlinks or evidence
- Click “Send“
Option B: Google Spam Report Form
- Visit the Google Spam Report page: google.com/webmasters/tools/spamreport
- Enter the URL of sites linking to you with spam
- Describe the spam tactic being used against you
- Submit the report
Note: Google typically doesn’t respond directly, but they’ll investigate flagged sites.
Option C: Reconsideration Request (If Penalized)
If you’ve received a manual action penalty due to negative SEO:
- Go to Google Search Console → Security & Manual Actions → Manual Actions
- Click “Request Review“
- Explain that you’re a victim of negative SEO:
“Our site was targeted by a negative SEO attack. We’ve identified and disavowed [number] toxic backlinks from [suspicious domains]. We did not build these links and request reconsideration.”
- Attach your disavow file and evidence
- Submit the request
Step 3: Use Google’s Disavow Tool
The disavow tool tells Google to ignore specific toxic backlinks pointing to your site.
How to Create a Disavow File:
- Create a .txt file named “disavow.txt“
- List toxic domains or URLs:
# Spam attack November 2025 domain:spammydomain.com domain:lowqualitysite.net http://badlink.com/page1.html
- Use “domain:” to disavow all links from a domain
- List individual URLs for specific pages
- Add comments with “#” for documentation
How to Submit to Google:
- Visit the Google Disavow Tool: search.google.com/search-console/disavow-links
- Select your property from the dropdown
- Click “Disavow Links“
- Upload your “disavow.txt” file
- Confirm the submission
Important: Only disavow links you’re certain are harmful. Incorrectly disavowing good links can hurt your rankings.
Step 4: Report Content Scraping
If someone copied your content, file a DMCA takedown notice:
Google DMCA Removal:
- Go to Google’s Copyright Removal Form: google.com/webmasters/tools/dmca-notice
- Provide your contact information
- List the original URLs (your content)
- List the infringing URLs (scraped content)
- Sign the legal statement
- Submit the form
Contact the Hosting Provider:
- Use WHOIS lookup to find the host
- Send a DMCA notice to their abuse email
- Most hosts remove content within 24-48 hours
Step 5: Report Fake Reviews
Google My Business:
- Log into Google Business Profile
- Find the fake review
- Click the three dots → Flag as inappropriate
- Select the reason (e.g., “Conflict of interest” or “Spam“)
- Submit for Google’s review
Other Review Sites:
- Yelp: Report via “Report Review” link
- Trustpilot: Use their dispute resolution process
- Facebook: Flag reviews through Business Manager
Step 6: Monitor and Follow Up
After reporting:
- Check Google Search Console weekly for new toxic backlinks
- Monitor your rankings to see if they recover
- Update your disavow file if new spam links appear
- Keep records of all reports submitted
- Be patient: Google can take 2-4 weeks to process disavow files
When to Hire a Professional
Some negative SEO attacks are complex and require expert intervention. Consider hiring a negative SEO removal service if:
- You’ve received a manual penalty from Google
- There are thousands of toxic backlinks to analyze
- You’re unsure which links to disavow
- Your rankings haven’t recovered after 30 days
- The attack is ongoing and sophisticated
- You need urgent recovery for business reasons
Professional services can identify attack patterns, contact webmasters for link removal, and handle Google communication on your behalf.
How Long Does It Take?
Recovery timelines vary:
- Disavow processing: 2-4 weeks
- Manual action reconsideration: 1-2 weeks
- DMCA takedowns: 24-72 hours
- Ranking recovery: 1-3 months
- Full recovery: 3-6 months for severe attacks
Preventing Future Attacks
Protect yourself from future negative SEO:
- Monitor backlinks weekly using Google Search Console or Ahrefs
- Set up Google Alerts for your brand name + negative keywords
- Use security plugins to prevent hacking
- Enable two-factor authentication on all accounts
- Regularly audit your site for malware or spam injections
- Build strong, natural backlinks to dilute toxic links
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I report negative SEO anonymously?
No. Google requires verification through Search Console, and DMCA notices require your contact information. However, your report details aren’t publicly visible.
Will Google respond to my report?
Google typically doesn’t send direct responses to negative SEO reports, but they do investigate flagged sites and take action when appropriate.
How many backlinks should I disavow?
Only disavow clearly toxic links (e.g., from spam directories, hacked sites, or irrelevant foreign sites). When in doubt, consult a professional before disavowing.
What if the negative SEO continues?
Continue documenting and reporting new attacks. Update your disavow file regularly. Consider hiring a negative SEO protection service for ongoing monitoring.
Can I sue someone for negative SEO?
Potentially yes, under laws like the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA) or tortious interference. However, identifying attackers is difficult and expensive. Focus on recovery first.
Does Google penalize sites for negative SEO?
Google’s algorithms are designed to ignore manipulative links, but severe attacks can trigger manual actions. That’s why reporting and disavowing is crucial.
Conclusion
Reporting negative SEO requires documenting the attack, using Google’s official channels (Search Console, Disavow Tool, and spam reports), and following up consistently. While the process can take time, proper reporting protects your site from ranking penalties and demonstrates to Google that you’re actively combating the attack.
If you’re dealing with a complex or ongoing negative SEO attack, don’t hesitate to contact professional negative SEO removal services for expert assistance.
Learn more: Complete Negative SEO Guide – 58+ expert articles on detection, prevention & recovery.