Readers like you keep news free for everyone.
More than 5,000 readers have already pitched in to keep free access to The Journal.
For the price of one cup of coffee each week you can help keep paywalls away.
Shutterstock/ymgerman
# Cracking down
Amazon set to take legal action against more than 1,000 'fake reviewers'
The fake reviews were being offered for sale for as little as $5 (€4.40).
ONLINE RETAILER AMAZON is set to take more than 1,000 people to court it believes are writing fake reviews on its site.
It is accusing those concerned of offering a service to write reviews on the website Fiverr, which facilitates payment for small services.
Amazon has said that those concerned create “false, misleading, and inauthentic customer reviews for their products on Amazon.com.”
These fake reviews were offered for sale for around $5 (€4.40).
In total Amazon is taking the case against 1,114 defendants.
In its complaint submitted to King county superior court in Seattle, Amazon has said, “While small in number, these reviews threaten to undermine the trust that customers, and the vast majority of sellers and manufacturers place in Amazon, thereby tarnishing Amazon’s brand.”
In the document, Amazon recount how it contacted those involved in providing the fake reviews, including the “CEO and Marketing Specialist” of buyazonreviews.com.
A number of the 5-star reviews are included in the document.
Fiverr is not the target of Amazon’s legal action, and has released a statement saying that it does not dispute the allegations regarding its freelancers.
Selling services like writing bogus reviews is banned under the company’s terms of service.
Read: This conference is trying to turn the west into a hub for drones
Also: It looks like these guys have chosen a name for their new €220m car show
