Sold for S$5 per post: Inside the persistent scourge of fake positive reviews online

Buying and selling fake online reviews is a common practice that deceives consumers, according to a recent investigation by CNA. Six businesses in Singapore, including a law firm, funeral home, and private investigator, have reportedly hired two suppliers to solicit these fraudulent endorsements. The reviews read unrealistically positive, with anonymous users lauding services for divorce lawyers or funeral parlours during grief.

This issue of deceptive online endorsements has been a persistent problem, highlighted by CNA since 2018.

CNA discovered listings on Carousell offering payment for posting reviews, ranging from S$1 to S$2 per review. The reporter agreed to provide glowing but misleading testimonials for six businesses in Singapore for S$5 per review. The postings were removed after the reporter identified herself and sought comment from the fake review suppliers, who either ignored the messages or deleted the conversation history.

Authorities have taken notice of this issue, with the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore warning about the unfair practice of posting fake reviews. If found, businesses involved in such practices may face penalties, including fines or the restoration of reputation and payment of damages. Carousell and Google have also implemented measures to combat this issue, but fake reviews continue to appear on their platforms.

In response to CNA’s queries, the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore stated that fake reviews mislead consumers into believing a product or service is more popular than it actually is. Despite efforts to combat this problem, instances of fake reviews persist on both Carousell and Google.