Polo Defense LogoPOLO DEFENSE

Case Study

U.S. Surgeon Reclaims Reputation After Malicious Review Bombing

Background:

A renowned bariatric surgeon in the United States, with over 20 years of experience and thousands of successful surgeries, found his practice under digital siege. A coordinated set of malicious patient reviews, anonymous blog posts, and forum allegations began surfacing online after a professional dispute with a former partner. While there were no malpractice claims or legal findings, the Google search results painted a damaging picture, triggering a 40% drop in consultation bookings within weeks.

Challenge:

  • Yelp, RateMDs, and Google Reviews included fabricated patient stories.
  • Several anonymous articles appeared on low-authority sites, mimicking news-style exposés.
  • Surgeon’s name queries showed 5 of the top 10 results with negativity or suspicion.
  • Traditional PR and legal letters had zero effect.
  • The surgeon needed a silent yet effective remedy to regain control.

Our Strategy

Content Validation & Legal Pathway Prep

Verified fake reviews and linked them to a coordinated IP pattern. Prepared takedown documentation for platforms violating content terms.

Reputation Firewall Deployment

Published professionally-authored articles across health-focused portals, scientific blogs, and award directories. Created verified medical biography microsites optimized for Google Discover and News inclusion.

Review Ecosystem Repair

Mobilized real patients through structured outreach for authentic reviews, improving ratings across Google, Vitals, and Healthgrades. Initiated shadow SEO layering to buffer and bury negative third-party pages.

Surgeon Schema & Panel Fix

Cleaned up structured data (schema.org) for improved visibility of qualifications, affiliations, and awards. Ensured the Google Knowledge Panel reflected accurate, peer-reviewed credentials.

Outcome (Within 4 Months):

  • 94% of negative or misleading results pushed beyond Page 3 across U.S. and local searches.
  • Google Ratings improved from 2.7 to 4.3 stars, driven by verified patient testimonials.
  • Inquiry volume rebounded within 60 days and stabilized above pre-crisis levels.
  • The surgeon avoided litigation and media escalation entirely.

Technology5 monthsFeatured

European CEO Fights Back Against Media Fallout

A high-profile European technology CEO faced intense media scrutiny following an internal whistleblower complaint. Though the allegations were later d...

Key Results:

  • 93% of negative links buried beyond Page 3
  • Top 20 results now reflect awards, thought leadership, and verified achievements.
Infrastructure, Energy, Logistics6 monthsFeatured

Indian Conglomerate Counters Media Blowback and Activist Pressure

A diversified Indian corporate group with interests in infrastructure, energy, and logistics became the target of a sustained media and activist campa...

Key Results:

  • 14 damaging articles suppressed from Page 1
  • Balanced media coverage from trusted agencies
Politics / Governance6 monthsFeatured

East African Political Leader Restores Digital Trust Ahead of National Elections

A prominent East African political leader—well-regarded for championing economic reforms and cross-border infrastructure initiatives—faced a coordinat...

Key Results:

  • 17 of top 20 search results replaced with verified, positive content
  • Misleading video content lost algorithmic traction
Online Gaming20 weeksFeatured

Online Gaming Brand Recovers After Trustpilot Review Bombing

A fast-scaling online gaming platform offering skill-based cash games across Europe faced a serious blow to its digital credibility after a server cra...

Key Results:

  • Trustpilot pushed to Position #8 or below
  • Trustpilot score improved to 4.1 stars