The present study contributes to the literature in following ways. First, based on distrust literature, this study presents and validates a hierarchical-influence-model of consumer distrust and describes its antecedents and relational outcomes. Second, it extends the prior literature on consumer distrust and examines it in the context of fake hotel reviews with two particular reviewer attributes. Third, based on theoretical conceptualziations, we investigate the first-stage outcome of consumer distrust in the form of psychological discomfort that further leads to behavioral responses. Fourth, this study widens current knowledge by examining two opposite ends of consumer behavior (i.e. negative electronic word-of-mouth and repeat purchase intentions), as the self-brand connection elements have not previously been given fair consideration.