{"id":38965,"date":"2025-06-27T08:33:35","date_gmt":"2025-06-27T08:33:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/?post_type=knowledge&p=38965"},"modified":"2025-06-27T08:33:56","modified_gmt":"2025-06-27T08:33:56","slug":"fake-amazon-reviews","status":"publish","type":"knowledge","link":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/retail\/fake-amazon-reviews\/","title":{"rendered":"Amazon fights back against fake reviews"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Amazon has committed to tackling fake and misleading reviews on its platform, following an investigation by the UK\u2019s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fake reviews can be a real problem for customers and can take many forms. As well as pledging to sanction fake reviews that have been paid for or incentivised, Amazon will also make efforts to prevent catalogue abuse. This is when sellers use reviews from a highly rated product on a listing for a separate item to boost its rating \u2013 such as reviews for a wallet on a listing for a pair of shoes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amazon has committed to improving processes to quickly detect and remove fake reviews and catalogue abuse. Once the offending sellers (and reviewers) have been identified, they could be banned from the platform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The online shopping giant also pledges to improve the reporting function, allowing customers and other sellers to report fake reviews to the platform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The CMA plans to monitor Amazon\u2019s compliance throughout the next year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How does this affect Amazon sellers?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Customer reviews are important for sellers. Data from BrightLocal\u2019s Local Consumer Review Survey<\/a> reveals that 42 per cent of consumers trust customer reviews as much as personal recommendations from friends and family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The good news is that if you don\u2019t use fraudulent or misleading reviews on your Amazon listings, these changes won\u2019t affect you. Only sellers found guilty of using fake reviews should worry about these changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, Amazon may look into your activity on the platform if you suddenly experience a suspicious change in activity \u2013 such as a drastic increase in review numbers or ratings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read more:<\/strong> How to get Google reviews for your business: 7 practical tips<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sellers should look out for \u2018strengthened laws around fake reviews\u2019<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Sarah Cardell, Chief Executive of the CMA, says: \u201cSo many people use Amazon, from buying a new bike lock to finding the best coffee machine \u2013 and what\u2019s clear is that star ratings and reviews have a huge impact on their choices. That\u2019s why these new commitments matter and help set the standard. They mean people can make decisions with greater confidence \u2013 knowing that those who seek to pull the wool over their eyes will be swiftly dealt with.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe undertakings from Amazon and Google, alongside our recently published advice to review platforms, paint a clear picture of what the law requires from businesses. Following this, we\u2019re now launching the next phase of our work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis will scrutinise whether review platforms, businesses who list products on them, and reviewers themselves, are complying with the strengthened laws around fake reviews \u2013 and whether further action will be needed to see real change for shoppers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More guides for Amazon sellers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n