It’s not a surprise to find fake review scams on Amazon. The Amazon seller can profit tremendously from these positive reviews. And fake reviews are designed to give marginal products and marginal sellers a much-needed boost. But they can also damage the business of legitimate Amazon sellers.
Amazon shoppers are dependent on reviews. A 2020 survey conducted by Tinuiti, an e-commerce strategy firm, found that reviews were one of the most important factors for shoppers. Price, shipping, and reviews are the top considerations of the shopper.
Fake reviews scams increase
In July, the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and the University of Southern California released “The Market for Fake Reviews.” The study analyzed 2019 data which found over 20 Facebook groups that provided fake reviews. They had an average of 16,000 members. Over 560 postings were solicited through these groups every day. Sellers offered a refund, product, or payment for five-star reviews.
But they can damage the business of legitimate Amazon sellers. The integrity of the platform has been recently tested by a recent series of articles exposing the pay-per-review marketplace in the Financial Times (FT).
