“I started doing some digging and I uncovered that the practice I went to had someone on Facebook and Facebook review exchange groups, bartering and trading, Yelp and Google reviews with other businesses,” Dean said. Kay Dean exposed this post and others like it on her YouTube channel “FakeReviewWatch” (Kay Dean/FakeReviewWatch) On her site and YouTube channel, Dean has uncovered thousands of examples of fake online reviews.Ī Facebook post offering cash for reviews. In 2018, Dean launched and its accompanying YouTube channel, both designed to help consumers avoid falling victim to fake reviews. That experience kickstarted Dean’s involvement in uncovering fakes. “And it left me really suspicious about those reviews that I had relied on.” “Five years ago, I used online reviews to find a doctor and I ended up having a bad experience,” Dean said. Kay Dean, a former fraud investigator for the federal government, said she never thought she would be deceived by an online review. Over the last few years, the FTC said it has tried to combat the problem, but the bad actors are still out there. Fake reviews violate Section 5(a) of the Federal Trade Commission Act (FTC Act) (15 USC §45) which prohibits “unfair or deceptive acts or practices in or affecting commerce.” The Federal Trade Commission’s Division of Advertising Practices monitors deceptive endorsements that cheat businesses and consumers of their purchasing experience. When private businesses write their own reviews or buy fake customer reviews it’s more than just a frustration for consumers, it’s illegal. But, according to industry experts, there’s a chance that online review was either bought or sold and, in many cases, completely fake. When that five-star review pops up, it’s seen as a badge of quality. Virtual “word of mouth” is how many gauge the caliber of new products and services. InvestigateTV - Online reviews have become an essential part of the digital shopping experience.
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