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By Nicole Width/Sept. 9, 2020 11:53 am EST
In a recent report on CNBC, Saoud Khalifah, founder and CEO of Fakespot explained that, “the review system, as of today, is broken.” He goes on to explain that although fake reviews have always found their way onto the site, since the pandemic and the subsequent increase in online sales activity, that percentage has increased nearly 10 percent.
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First, check the timestamps on the reviews. If a newer product suddenly gets a bunch of reviews in one or two days instead of over weeks, months, and years, be wary (via Reader’s Digest). Second, look for review language that seems repetitive and has glaringly obvious grammar and spelling errors. Many farmed reviewers don’t speak English as a first language, so any cluster of reviews with similar wording and obvious grammar errors should be questioned. Finally, don’t be fooled by an overwhelming number of five-star reviews. No product can have all perfect reviews. It’s one of the most important things you can look for (via CNBC). When you are researching a product, it’s actually best to pay closer attention to the reviews in the two, three, and four star ratings, which are likely more reliable, according to digital marketing expert Neil Patel’s blog.
Remember also to always leave fair and legitimate reviews after you make a purchase to help out other shoppers, and if you think you’ve come across a fake, use the report button next to the review (via CNBC).
