Whether you’re hiring a contractor, looking for an apartment, or shopping online, chances are you check out online reviews first. Many people use reviews to see the honest opinions of other buyers — and companies rely on reviews to stand out from the crowd. But some companies write, post, or pay for fake reviews — and that hurts people and honest companies.
To protect consumers, the FTC monitors the marketplace and brings cases against companies using deceptive and unfair business practices. The agency recently sent warning letters to companies urging them to take a look at their reviews and remove any deceptive or misleading statements. The FTC’s letters remind companies that creating, buying, or posting fake reviews, or giving incentives for only positive reviews, may trigger enforcement actions and fines.
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