An Upsurge in Fake Amazon.com Reviews Hurts Everyone
Buyers typically rely on Amazon product reviews when it comes time to make a purchase. And as with most internet sites, those items boasting a surplus of four and five star reviews receive the most attention from the average consumer. But what happens when the seller solicits positive reviews as a way to boost sales and pad overall ratings? Usually … nothing good. Up until late 2016, there was nothing prohibiting sellers from entering into quid pro quo-type arrangements with customers. Reviews in exchange for free products. The understanding, of course, was that said reviews would be “honest and unbiased.” But Amazon then changed their policy regarding incentivized reviews and many buyers, who were profiting royally from the former arrangement, took the practice underground. (There is speculation that Amazon only cracked down once customers started noticing a trend of reviews that were rated highly but were quite general in content.) This brings us to present day ...