Consumer alert · Maryland

Don’t trust Above the Rest’s reviews

Their cleaners have been logging into customers’ Google accounts on customers’ own computers and posting 5-star reviews about themselves.

15Suspect reviews
15/15Name the cleaners
2Crews behind them
30Days

How to spot themThe tells

They sign their work

Every single review names the cleaners. Be sure to ask for Kathy.

Spanish “y”

5 English reviews join names with Spanish: Kathy y Marlene, erika y rosa.

Copy, paste, repeat

Erika and Rosa are the best posted 3 times. 4 reviews are just the names.

Posted in bursts

Three Erika & Rosa reviews posted on the same day. 8 of the 15 landed in a single week.

“Laboratory cleaning”

2 reviews pick a service a house-cleaning company doesn’t offer.

Notes to the boss

Please send either Kathy or Marilu… Please no new ladies. Posted as a public review.

The evidence15 reviews

5★ Five-star review: Cathy and Marlene. They are professional and very kind. I recommend this cleaning company to anyone who needs to maintain a high-quality service for the best experience, be sure to ask for kathy
⚠ Tells future customers to “ask for Kathy”⚠ Spells her name “Cathy” and “kathy” in the same review
5★ Five-star review: i love the service this company provides. they are very friendly, punctual and responsable. erika y rosa left my house looking like new. i recommend them.
⚠ Spanish “y” in an English review
5★ Five-star review: Kathy y Marlene were excellent, great and fast service.
⚠ Spanish “y” in an English review
5★ Five-star review: erika and rosa are the best
⚠ Same wording as two other reviews
5★ Five-star review: erika and rosa dis great job
⚠ Third Erika & Rosa review posted the same day
5★ Five-star review: Kathy and Marlene
⚠ Only the cleaners’ names⚠ Written in Spanish, auto-translated by Google⚠ “Laboratory cleaning” from a house-cleaning company
5★ Five-star review: erika and rosa are the best
⚠ Same wording as two other reviews⚠ “Laboratory cleaning” from a house-cleaning company
5★ Five-star review: Kathy y jeymi
⚠ Only the cleaners’ names⚠ Spanish “y”
5★ Five-star review: Erika and Rosa did a great job. I’m so glad with they.
5★ Five-star review: Erika and Rosa are the best.
⚠ Same wording as two other reviews
5★ Five-star review: Erika and Rosa
⚠ Only the cleaners’ names
5★ Five-star review: Kathy y marlene excellent Work very impressive, they were very attentive and lovely.
⚠ Spanish “y” in an English review
5★ Five-star review: Kathy y Marilu they were very good. If possible are you able to send either Kathy or Marilu to my place for cleaning every other Wednesday. Please no new ladies… thank you
⚠ Spanish “y” in an English review⚠ A scheduling request posted as a public review
5★ Five-star review: erika and rosa were great
5★ Five-star review: Kathy, Marlene
⚠ Only the cleaners’ names

Hired them?Check your account

  1. Check your own Google account. If a Above the Rest cleaner had access to your computer, phone or tablet, open Google Maps → Your contributions → Reviews and look for a review you didn’t write. Delete it if it’s there.
  2. Secure your account. Visit Google device activity, sign out any session you don’t recognize, and change your password.
  3. Check your other accounts. Were you logged into any other account? Check any other site where they may have logged into it and posted something with your account.
  4. Report it. Fake reviews are illegal under the FTC’s 2024 rule. File at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.