Be Warned: Not All Recommendations Are Real Anymore

If you've ever scrolled through a neighborhood Facebook group or contractor referral thread and thought, "Something about this feels off"—you're not imagining it. In a world where AI can generate convincing reviews, photos, and entire company profiles in minutes, the trust we once placed in community recommendations has been compromised.

The New Reality of Fake Recommendations

AI-generated content has flooded social media groups, review sites, and referral platforms. What used to be a reliable way to find trustworthy contractors — asking your neighbors — has become a minefield of:

• AI-generated logos and company profiles that look professional but represent no real business
• Fake reviews written by AI, posted from fake accounts, sometimes hundreds at a time
• Stolen work photos pulled from legitimate contractors' websites and presented as someone else's work
• Bot-driven recommendation threads where multiple fake accounts recommend the same contractor

How to Protect Yourself

1. Verify independently — Don't rely on a single source. Cross-reference with business registrations, insurance certificates, and physical addresses.
2. Look for established track records — Real contractors have verifiable histories, licenses, and references you can call.
3. Be suspicious of urgency tactics — "I can come today" or "10% off this month" are pressure tactics, not value.
4. Use vetted networks — Platforms like Real Landlording actively screen contractors and verify their credentials.
5. Trust your gut — If something feels off about a recommendation, it probably is.