Reviews significantly affect purchasing decisions – we should know – so it’s important Amazon maintains integrity.
That’s why the online retail giant is now taking legal action against more than 1,000 fake reviewers.
The mass lawsuit was filed in Seattle, Washington, and takes aim at individuals peddling paid-for reviews.
The case targets 1,114 defendants, the names of whom are currently unknown.
The defendants in question offer a false review service for “as little as $5” on Fiverr.com, as reported by the BBC.
For that price, you’ll get a five-star review courtesy of these prolific fakers.
The company claims that the spurious reviews are “false, misleading, and inauthentic”.
“While small in number,
In an effort to snag the culprits, Amazon launched an investigation that involved buying fake reviews from the website.
It allowed the fraudulent reviewers to post reviews, and then observed them using multiple accounts from varying IP addresses to avoid detection.
“Amazon is bringing this action to protect its customers from this misconduct, by stopping defendants and uprooting the ecosystem in which they participate,” the lawsuit reads.
Related: Best Smartphones 2015
Amazon’s current terms and conditions forbid paid-for and fictional reviews.
Have you ever suspected an Amazon review of being fake? Let us know in the comments.
Check out our smartphone buyer’s video guide below:
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
