In two separate lawsuits, Amazon and Google have gone after “bad actors” who they claim are selling and publishing fake reviews of products or businesses on their sites.
The two tech giants have filed complaints at district courts in their home states of Washington and California.
They have both named multiple individuals, but are focused on a website called Bigboostup.com and are after its sale proceeds from the alleged fake reviews in what is just another case in a constant battle waged by both companies.
Fraudulent Reviews?
The complaints were filed on October 28 and both companies are seeking injunctions as well as damages.
Google is accusing Bigboostup.com, and its owner, Bangladesh-based Proloy Pondit, of publishing more than 1,000 fake reviews of businesses on Google Maps.
Google said in its complaint, filed in the US District Court in San Jose, that the “defendants claim that they can and will author positive or negative reviews for any business listed on Google Maps, virtually anywhere in the world. Defendants provide these “services” for businesses they have never visited, instead posting fraudulent and misleading reviews for financial gain and at the cost of both businesses and consumers who rely on review.”
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Fake Content Can “Undermine” Trust
Meanwhile, Amazon accused the team behind Bigboostup.com of operating an “illicit business of selling fake product reviews to bad actors, among other illicit services targeting Amazon and a variety of other companies and organizations.”
It adds that the defendants were charging $60 for one review to $2,680 for 50 reviews, and “told prospective customers they would post each review with a customer account that had a ‘unique profile’ and was verified or created with a dedicated email address,” reports RetailDive.
Amazon’s complaint was filed in the US District Court in Seattle.
“Fake product reviews, fake feedback, and other fake content can significantly undermine the trust that customers, sellers, and manufacturers place in Amazon, which in turn tarnishes Amazon’s brand.” -Amazon’s complaint
However, the named defendant, Pondit, remains adamant that he has done no wrong. He told the publication Legal Dive that he had “not sold any product,” adding “I will not do anything that harms people.”
How to Spot Fake Reviews
Fakespot from Mozilla is a tool that will help you single out fake reviews: You can add it to your browser for free, and it works with Amazon, eBay, Walmart and Shopify, among other e-retail sites.
On Google Maps, experts suggest checking the reviewer’s history, and looking out for odd language and inconsistencies like getting the name of the venue wrong.
Common sense has a big part to play. However, as this latest case shows, fake reviews are big business and the scammers are relentless.
Amazon says it removed more than 250 million suspect reviews in 2023 alone. Even with lawsuits and tech to spot the fake entries, there are always going to be some that get through.
