You find a scathing AmbitionBox review about your company. It mentions your name. It accuses you of things that never happened. It was probably written by the employee you terminated for cause three months ago.
You contact AmbitionBox support. They tell you the review doesn’t violate their community guidelines. You contact Glassdoor about a similar review. They tell you the same thing.
Now what?
This is one of the most common frustrations Indian employers face, and the advice online ranges from “just ignore it” to “we’ll delete all your negative reviews for Rs. 50,000.” Neither extreme is helpful. The truth is somewhere in between, and it depends entirely on the specific review, the platform’s policies, and whether you’re willing to pursue legal routes.
This guide is the honest playbook. We’ll cover what actually works for removing fake or defamatory reviews on Glassdoor and AmbitionBox in India, what doesn’t work despite what agencies promise, and the realistic strategies for managing your employer reputation on these platforms.
The Reality Check: What AmbitionBox and Glassdoor Actually Allow
Before we get into tactics, let’s be clear about each platform’s official position on review removal.
AmbitionBox’s Policy
AmbitionBox (owned by Info Edge, the same company behind Naukri.com) has a clear official position: they do not offer paid services to remove or write reviews. This is stated directly on their FAQ page.
Reviews can only be removed if they violate AmbitionBox’s Community Guidelines. Violations include:
Reviews that contain personal attacks or name specific individuals Reviews with profanity or threatening language Reviews that include confidential or proprietary information Reviews from people who weren’t actually employees Reviews with missing or unverifiable user details (username, IP, email) Duplicate reviews from the same person Reviews that are promotional rather than genuine feedback
If a review doesn’t violate these guidelines, AmbitionBox will not remove it, even if the employer considers it unfair or inaccurate. This is their stated policy, and in practice, they enforce it.
Glassdoor’s Policy
Glassdoor takes a similar stance. Reviews are only removed if they violate their Community Guidelines, which prohibit:
Reviews from non-employees or individuals without direct experience Defamatory statements (statements of fact that are demonstrably false) Reviews that identify specific individuals by name (with limited exceptions) Reviews with discriminatory or hateful content Reviews that include confidential company information Fake or incentivized reviews
Glassdoor explicitly states that they will not remove reviews simply because an employer disagrees with the content. A negative opinion expressed as an opinion (e.g., “I felt the management was poor”) is protected, even if the employer considers it unfair.
What This Means for You
If the negative review on AmbitionBox or Glassdoor is a genuine opinion from an actual employee, the platform will almost certainly not remove it, regardless of how much you disagree with it. This is a fact that many ORM agencies don’t tell you upfront.
The reviews that CAN be removed are those that are:
- Factually false (stating provably untrue facts, not opinions)
- Written by someone who was never an employee
- Personally attacking individuals by name
- Containing confidential information
- Violating other specific community guidelines
Now let’s look at what you can actually do.
Route 1: Flagging Reviews That Violate Community Guidelines
This is the most straightforward approach and works in about 30-40% of cases where the review genuinely violates guidelines.
How to Flag on AmbitionBox
Step 1: Log into your AmbitionBox employer account. If you don’t have one, claim your company page first at ambitionbox.com.
Step 2: Go to the specific review you want to flag.
Step 3: Click the “Report” option on the review.
Step 4: Select the specific guideline violation from the dropdown.
Step 5: Provide a detailed explanation of why the review violates guidelines. Be specific. Don’t just say “it’s fake.” Explain exactly which statement is false and provide evidence if possible.
Step 6: Email [email protected] with the same information, referencing your online report. Having both a platform report and an email creates a paper trail.
What to expect: AmbitionBox reviews flagged reviews through their moderation process. If the review violates guidelines, they’ll remove it. If it doesn’t, they’ll notify you that they can’t remove it. Response time varies from a few days to a few weeks.
How to Flag on Glassdoor
Step 1: Go to the specific review on your Glassdoor company page.
Step 2: Click the flag icon to report the review.
Step 3: Select the reason for reporting (guideline violation, not an actual employee, etc.).
Step 4: Provide detailed supporting evidence. This is where specificity matters enormously. If you’re claiming the reviewer wasn’t an employee, provide evidence of your employee records showing no match. If you’re claiming the review contains false facts, cite the specific claim and your counter-evidence.
Step 5: Submit and wait for Glassdoor’s moderation team to review. They typically respond within 10-14 days.
When Flagging Works vs. When It Doesn’t
Flagging works when:
- The reviewer names a specific person (AmbitionBox and Glassdoor both prohibit this)
- You can prove the reviewer was never an employee (enrollment records, offer letters, etc.)
- The review contains demonstrably false factual statements (not opinions, but verifiable facts)
- The review includes confidential salary data, client names, or trade secrets
- The same person posted multiple reviews
Flagging doesn’t work when:
- The review is a negative opinion expressed as an opinion (“Management is terrible”)
- The review is vague enough to be considered general feedback
- The reviewer is an actual former employee sharing their experience
- You simply disagree with the reviewer’s characterization of events
Route 2: Legal Routes Under Indian Law
When platform moderation won’t help, Indian law provides several options. These are more time-consuming and expensive but can be effective for genuinely defamatory reviews.
IT Rules 2021 Grievance Officer Complaint
Both AmbitionBox and Glassdoor are required to have Grievance Officers under Indian IT Rules 2021.
For AmbitionBox: Contact their Grievance Officer at the address listed in their legal/terms page. Your complaint should reference specific provisions of the IT (Intermediary Guidelines) Rules 2021 and identify the review as containing defamatory or factually false content.
For Glassdoor: Glassdoor’s India-specific Grievance Officer details should be available on their website. File a formal complaint citing the IT Rules 2021.
The Grievance Officer must acknowledge your complaint within 24 hours and resolve it within 15 days. If they refuse to remove the review, you can escalate to the Grievance Appellate Committee at gac.gov.in.
Defamation Notice Under BNS 2023
If the review contains defamatory content (false statements of fact that harm your reputation), you can send a legal notice under Section 79 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023 (which replaced Section 499/500 of IPC).
The legal notice should be sent to:
- The platform’s Grievance Officer
- The platform’s India legal team
- The reviewer (if identifiable)
A defamation notice carries legal weight and often prompts platforms to re-review the content. Many reviews get removed after a legal notice that were initially upheld through the standard flagging process.
Court Order for Removal
In extreme cases, you can petition the High Court for an order directing the platform to remove the review. This requires:
- Proving the review contains defamatory statements (false facts, not opinions)
- Showing that you’ve exhausted other remedies (flagging, Grievance Officer)
- Demonstrating ongoing harm to your business reputation
Court orders are the nuclear option. They’re expensive (Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 3,00,000 in legal fees), time-consuming (weeks to months), and should only be pursued for reviews that cause significant, ongoing business harm.
Consumer Protection Act 2019
If the review constitutes “unfair trade practice” (e.g., a competitor posting fake negative reviews to harm your business), the Consumer Protection Act 2019 provides remedies. You can file a complaint with the Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission.
Route 3: Strategic Response (The Most Underrated Approach)
Here’s what most employers miss: responding to negative reviews can be more effective than removing them. A professional, thoughtful response to a negative review actually improves your employer brand in the eyes of candidates reading the reviews.
Why Responses Work Better Than Removal
Job seekers reading AmbitionBox and Glassdoor reviews are sophisticated. They know that every company has some negative reviews. What they’re looking for is:
How does the company handle criticism? A professional, empathetic response signals maturity and good leadership.
Are the issues being addressed? If the reviewer complained about work-life balance and your response explains new policies you’ve implemented, that’s powerful.
Is the company engaged? Companies that never respond to reviews look like they don’t care. Companies that respond to every review (positive and negative) look like they’re paying attention.
How to Write an Effective Response
Do:
- Thank the reviewer for their feedback (even if you disagree)
- Acknowledge any legitimate concerns
- Share specific actions you’ve taken to address the issues
- Invite them to discuss further offline (provide an HR contact email)
- Keep it professional and brief (200-300 words max)
- Respond within 2-3 days of the review being posted
Don’t:
- Get defensive or argumentative
- Try to identify the reviewer publicly
- Threaten legal action in a public response
- Dismiss the review as “fake” without evidence
- Write long, corporate-speak responses
- Ignore the specific issues raised
Example Response
“Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. We take all feedback seriously and want to address the concerns you’ve raised about work-life balance. Over the past six months, we’ve implemented flexible working hours, reduced weekend work requirements, and introduced a no-meeting Friday policy. We recognize that our earlier practices fell short, and we’re committed to improving. If you’d like to discuss this further, please reach out to [email protected]. We genuinely value your perspective.”
This type of response doesn’t just address the reviewer. It speaks to every future candidate who reads the review. And it often has a bigger positive impact than removing the review ever would.
Route 4: Dilution Through Positive Reviews (The Long Game)
If you can’t remove a negative review, you can dilute its impact by generating more positive reviews. This isn’t about faking reviews (both platforms detect and penalize that). It’s about systematically encouraging genuine positive reviews from satisfied employees.
How to Generate Genuine Positive Reviews
Exit interview integration. At the end of positive exit interviews, mention that the departing employee can share their experience on AmbitionBox or Glassdoor. Don’t pressure them. Just make them aware of the option.
Anniversary milestones. When employees hit work anniversaries (1 year, 2 years, 5 years), send them a message acknowledging the milestone and mentioning that they can share their experience on review platforms. Happy, long-tenured employees are your best reviewers.
After positive events. After a company offsite, a bonus announcement, a promotion cycle, or a team celebration, employees are naturally more positive. This is a good time to mention review platforms.
Never incentivize. Do not offer bonuses, gifts, or any incentive for posting reviews. Both platforms prohibit this, and if discovered, all your reviews could be flagged or removed.
Frequency matters. One burst of 20 positive reviews in a week looks suspicious. A steady stream of 2-3 positive reviews per month looks natural. Encourage reviews consistently, not in campaigns.
Target Rating Strategy
For most Indian companies, a realistic target is:
- AmbitionBox: 3.5+ overall rating (above average for Indian companies)
- Glassdoor: 3.8+ overall rating
You don’t need a perfect 5.0. In fact, a 5.0 rating looks suspicious. Job seekers trust companies with ratings in the 3.5-4.5 range that have a mix of positive and negative reviews with thoughtful management responses.
What Doesn’t Work (Despite What Some Agencies Promise)
Let’s be direct about the approaches that agencies sell but that rarely deliver:
“We’ll remove all your negative reviews.” No legitimate agency can guarantee removal of reviews that don’t violate platform guidelines. If an agency promises this, they’re either lying about their capabilities or using tactics that could get your company banned from the platform.
Fake positive review flooding. Both AmbitionBox and Glassdoor have fraud detection systems. Patterns like reviews from the same IP range, similar writing styles, or unusual posting patterns get flagged. If caught, the platform may add a “suspicious review activity” badge to your company page, which is far worse than the original negative reviews.
Buying premium employer accounts for removal. AmbitionBox explicitly states they don’t offer paid removal services. Glassdoor’s premium employer products give you analytics and response tools but do not include review removal capabilities. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
Hacking or technical manipulation. Beyond being illegal, this doesn’t work. Platform databases are backed up, and removed reviews reappear quickly. Plus, you’d be violating the IT Act (unauthorized access to computer systems, Section 66).
The Reddit Factor: Why Forum Discussions Matter for Employer Reputation
Employer reputation doesn’t live only on AmbitionBox and Glassdoor. Reddit’s r/developersIndia, r/india, and industry-specific subreddits are increasingly where Indian job seekers discuss companies.
Reddit threads about employer experiences often rank in Google for company-name searches. And as we discussed in our guides on AI search reputation management and generative engine optimization, ChatGPT heavily cites Reddit when answering questions about companies.
What to do about Reddit discussions:
Monitor relevant subreddits for mentions of your company. Respond professionally to criticisms (with a verified account that identifies you as a company representative). Never astroturf. Reddit communities are extremely good at detecting fake accounts, and getting caught will make things much worse.
For a broader view of how employer reputation fits into your overall strategy, our guide on business reputation management covers the full picture.
How FameNinja Handles Employer Review Cases
At FameNinja, we take an honest approach to employer review management:
We assess removability first. Before taking on a case, we evaluate each review against the platform’s community guidelines. If the review is a legitimate opinion from an actual employee, we tell the client upfront that removal is unlikely and recommend the response and dilution strategies instead.
We use all legitimate channels. For reviews that do violate guidelines, we file through the platform’s moderation process, the Grievance Officer route under IT Rules 2021, and legal notices when appropriate. We pursue these in parallel to maximize speed.
We help with the long game. We design review generation strategies that build a sustainable positive review pipeline. We draft management response templates and train HR teams on review management best practices.
We integrate with broader ORM. Review management is just one piece of employer branding and reputation management. We ensure that your Google search results, social media presence, and AI search visibility all support a positive employer narrative.
FAQ
Can I pay AmbitionBox to remove negative reviews?
No. AmbitionBox explicitly states they do not offer paid services to remove or write reviews. Any agency claiming to have a paid removal arrangement with AmbitionBox is misrepresenting their capabilities. Reviews can only be removed through AmbitionBox’s standard moderation process if they violate community guidelines.
How do I report a fake review on Glassdoor?
Click the flag icon on the specific review and select the reason for reporting. Provide detailed evidence supporting your claim, such as employee records showing the reviewer was never employed at your company, or documentation proving specific factual claims in the review are false. Glassdoor’s moderation team reviews flagged content within 10-14 days.
What qualifies as a defamatory review under Indian law?
A review is defamatory under Section 79 of BNS 2023 if it contains false statements of fact (not opinions) that harm your reputation. “The CEO embezzled company funds” (a false factual claim) is potentially defamatory. “I felt the management was incompetent” (a personal opinion) is not defamatory, even if you strongly disagree. The distinction between fact and opinion is the key legal test.
Should I respond to negative reviews publicly?
Yes, in almost all cases. Professional, empathetic responses to negative reviews improve your employer brand more than removing the reviews would. Job seekers on AmbitionBox and Glassdoor specifically look for how companies respond to criticism. A thoughtful response signals maturity, accountability, and good leadership.
How many positive reviews do I need to offset a negative one?
There’s no fixed ratio, but as a general guideline, 5-7 genuine positive reviews can significantly dilute the impact of one negative review. More important than the ratio is the recency and specificity of positive reviews. Recent, detailed positive reviews carry more weight than old, generic ones.
Can I find out who wrote an anonymous review?
Through normal means, no. Both AmbitionBox and Glassdoor protect reviewer anonymity. However, in defamation cases, Indian courts can order platforms to disclose reviewer identity. This requires a court proceeding where you demonstrate that the review is defamatory and that you need the identity to pursue legal remedies. Practically, this is a high bar and is only worth pursuing for reviews causing significant harm.
Do AmbitionBox reviews affect AI search results about my company?
Yes. When someone asks ChatGPT or Perplexity “What is it like to work at [Company]?”, AI models pull from AmbitionBox, Glassdoor, and Reddit discussions. A low rating on these platforms can directly influence AI-generated answers about your company. This makes employer review management part of your AI search reputation strategy, not just a hiring concern.
How long does it take to improve an AmbitionBox or Glassdoor rating?
With a consistent review generation strategy (encouraging 2-3 genuine reviews per month from satisfied employees), most companies see meaningful rating improvement within 3-6 months. This assumes you’re also addressing the underlying issues that caused negative reviews, responding to existing reviews, and not engaging in any review manipulation that could get flagged by the platform.
