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Amazon Lawsuit Aims To Kill Fake Reviews (theguardian.com)

Posted by timothy on from the better-than-cats dept.

Mark Wilson writes with a story at Beta News (relying on this report at The Guardian) that Amazon is suing more than 1,000 fake reviewers for their misleading, paid-for reviews: The ability to read reviews of products before making a purchase is one of the great advantages of online shopping. But how do you know that what you're reading is a genuine review and not just glowing praise planted by the seller or manufacturer? Fake reviews are a serious problem, and Amazon is trying to do something about it. The retail giant has filed a lawsuit against 1,114 individuals for writing 'false, misleading, and inauthentic' reviews. Amazon says that the fakers are tarnishing its reputation, and the attempt to clean up the site is something that will be welcomed by consumers. From the Guardian's version of the story: Amazon said there had been misleading five-star reviews and comments about products, such as: “This has lit up my life” about a USB cable. A bogus comment said “definitely buying more I was impressed with how bright the lights on the cable are”, while another reviewer gave a product top marks and added the comment “cool charger”. Amazon is not suing Fiverr, a startup that raised $30m from investors last year, as the company says in its terms and conditions that advertising for services such as writing bogus reviews is banned.

7 of 125 comments (clear)

  1. why review? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Interesting

    So, let's see, now if post a review on Amazon, they might sue me? I knew it was pointless to post those reviews, but now it's clearly stupid, as well.

    1. Re:why review? by BlueUnderwear · · Score: 5, Interesting

      In those cases, it can be highly educational to read through the reviews because people often highlight product flaws and provide advice and workarounds for common problems.

      Workarounds for common problems? That will get your review edited or cancelled real quick. With a lot of nasty mails reminding you what a review is for (i.e. for helping the buyer decide whether to buy the product or not, rather than helping him use it once he has it). Has happened to me a couple of times after reviewing some more tricky to use items (electronic gear for Raspberry Pi). I figured that re-assuring the user that the product can be used despite some flaws would put it back in place. At least *I* as a buyer would be grateful to have that kind of info when deciding whether to buy or not. But apparently Amazon moderators see this differently...

      Since then I basically stopped reviewing. Indeed, why take the time to write a thoughtful and helpful review, and then see it butchered a week after, and removed entirely two weeks later?

      --
      Say no to software patents.
    2. Re:why review? by chipschap · · Score: 3, Interesting

      The problem wasn't with writing a bad review of a bad product. The problem came when I received a really good product, that deserved a good review. I would look like a shill even though I was telling the truth.

      For instance, I reviewed practically the whole Brainwavz audio product line. They make very good products. I'm an electrical engineer who did professional audio work for quite a few years, and I think I know what I'm talking about. So I gave Brainwavz a lot of good reviews because that was the honest truth. But I was accused of shilling and selling out, even though I was careful to point out product shortcomings as well as merits.

      Did I really need over a dozen free headsets? Hardly. (And no, I won't sell them off because that's very unethical.) I just wanted to give genuine feedback in the hopes that it would be useful.

      But I'm done. As the commenter above noted, it's a scummy world out there, and for every company that truly wants an honest review (Brainwavz was really good about it, they are very ethical), there's a dozen that don't.

  2. Three things about Amazon reviews by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 4, Interesting

    1. Generally, I only put stock into the ones from verified purchasers - mainly because of all the people trying to game the reviews.

    2. There is a growing, serious problem with reviews submitted people who've been given a product discount and "asked" to write a review. Interestingly, they apparently are required to state that fact in the review itself, which makes it easier for me to flag all such reviews as "unhelpful".

    3. Amazon has its own ludicrous program for sending free products to people expressly so they'll review the items ("Vine", I think). These are also well worthy of being flagged as unhelpful, which I try to do whenever I'm exposed to them. Come on, Amazon... I only want to hear the experiences of people who purchased the product because they needed / wanted it. I couldn't care less about the opinion of someone who received the product just because they're considered a good reviewer in general - what a dumb concept!

    --
    #DeleteChrome
    1. Re:Three things about Amazon reviews by mysidia · · Score: 3, Interesting

      I'm indifferent about it. The reviewer should be required to disclose that they received product or a promise for compensation for writing reviews.

      Once they do so, their product reviews should be tagged with a Review by Paid Reviewer tag.

      A star rating should not appear for the product, until there are enough reviews by non-compensated reviewers. Once they are, the compensated reviews should be kept separate, and an additional star rating should be shown that takes into account only verified purchasers.

  3. Re:Should we sue all advertisers too? by phantomfive · · Score: 4, Interesting

    You can actually complain about false advertising here. Major advertisers know the rules though, and get close to the line of illegality without actually crossing it. Although not always.

    --
    "First they came for the slanderers and i said nothing."
  4. I admit I did this for about a year for extra cash by Cito · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I did reviews, blog comments, forum posts, and such for extra cash for almost a year.

    There are companies that even pay forum commenters to try and argue a specific point. They even give tips how to get a poster with an opposing view that argues with you banned, with tricks to use to make the debate go from heated argument to using certain arguing tricks to incite the opponent into raging and cursing/name calling/etc, then get them suspended or banned thus making you look the victor in spreading a company or organization's propaganda even if you don't believe it yourself.

    For example you may hate Jews, or Scientology, or Coke, or Apple, Microsoft, lists go on and on and on...

    But even though you hate them, you can get paid to post pro-propaganda in a real non bot post and they give you talking points on stirring up controversy and making the thread popular and arguing with those against your side.

    Toward end, when I moved from fake reviews and 5 stars, and did paid forum posts I was arguing with posters that I personally agreed with but to get paid had to "act" like I truly believed the shit I wrote. And I personally got 3 people suspended and banned by inciting them into raging. I decided it wasn't fun anymore spreading bullshit and getting paid to practically troll.

    Forums they target are from news comment sections to kooky conspiracy forums like abovetopsecret.com, Slashdot, Reddit, Somethingaweful (once you've proven to be a good poster the company will buy your membership into some forums), list goes on and on.

    And using Tor to create multiple accounts for creating a virtual opponent so you actually debate yourself, but just enough to bait others into it, or you wind up winning your "fake debate" with yourself.

    Here's just a few examples of companies that act as the "middle man" to the corporations, organizations, and charities that pay forum posters to push specific agendas. And yes Jewish lobby is a gigantic user of these services to attack and try to get any antisemitism banned or thread locked, and political parties,SJW groups, to brand loyalty and etc. It would blow your mind how many posters on your favorite sites are actually paid shills while they may argue with you, they honestly agree with you, they get paid to incite, debate, and spread viewpoints.

    http://www.paidforumposting.co...
    http://kickstartyourforums.com...
    http://thecashchat.com/forum/
    http://www.mylot.com/
    http://www.postloop.com/
    http://talk4dollar.com/

    That's just a tiny tiny sample. But they are middle-men that way the true companies, organizations, charities have deniability of using paid shills.