Holiday Shopping Safety Alert: Spotting Fake Reviews

GREENVILLE, SC (FOX Carolina) – With more people doing all their holiday shopping online, the Better Business Bureau is warning shoppers to be wary of fake reviews.

Hunter Jones, president of the Upstate Better Business Bureau, said some businesses may use fake positive reviews to gain the trust of buyers and drive a surge on e-commerce websites.

Here are things to look out for:

Where is the review? Companies control their websites and social media pages and only post the best reviews. Look for third-party reviews on other platforms.
Does the review look generic? Fake reviews often have generic names and vague, short descriptions of the product.
Are they scene setting? Fake reviewers may tell personal or second-hand stories focused on scenarios such as anniversaries or birthdays. Real reviews focus on the product.
When were the reviews posted? If a business suddenly receives a large number of reviews in a very short period of time, this could indicate that they are fake.
Are the reviews from verified buyers? Some sites list verified buyers. If a large number of reviewers say they received something for free in exchange for their review, that’s a red flag.

In August, the Federal Trade Commission made it illegal for companies to create fake reviews, buy positive reviews, or suppress negative consumer reviews.

Click here to report suspicious online reviews.