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☆ That lipstick review could have been written by AI
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-12 | by ( Katie Notopoulos | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

I purchased the Haus Labs foundation after watching a glowing review of the product by a makeup influencer on TikTok. That's where online reviews come in: For beauty, especially, reviews from influencers and regular people are crucial. Content Coach gives users prompts of key topics to include in their review, based on common themes in other reviews. "In terms of generative AI, if people can't trust whether a product review is genuine and written by a real user, they might choose to shop elsewhere," said Marissa Jones, the company's senior vice president of product. AI-powered reviews will certainly be great for beauty brands that want more high-quality reviews.

Persons: it's, Selena, Marissa Jones, Bazaarvoice, Chanel, Reilly Organizations: Service, Haus Labs, Business, Fashion, L'Oréal, Clarins, FTC, Walmart, eBay Locations: TikTok, Pacifica

☆ That security camera and smart doorbell you’re using may have some major security flaws
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-09 | by ( Samantha Murphy Kelly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

… I’m completely done with smart devices like that.”24-year-old Heather Hines is among the Wyze users whose personal camera footage was viewed during a recent security breach. Henderson, who owns 10 Wyze cameras, said he is starting to replace them with other brands. It also raises the question about whether the value of smart devices is worth the risks. Amazon and Google have experienced security breaches with Ring and Nest security devices in recent years. People can also reconsider how many smart devices they actually need in the home.

Persons: Heather Hines, Hines, ”, “ I’m, ” Hines, I’m, Eddie Henderson, Henderson, Dave Cosby, Tuck, Paddy Harrington, That’s, Michela, Michela Menting, “, ” Harrington, It’s, you’ve, they’ll, ” Menting Organizations: CNN, Wyze, Consumer, Amazon, Walmart, Sears, Federal Communications Commission, US, Forrester Research, Attackers, Google, ABI Research, Consumer Product Safety, White, FBI Locations: Southern California, Nova Scotia, Canada, China, ” Haddington

☆ Australian regulator calls for new competition laws for digital platforms
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 27 (Reuters) - Australia's competition watchdog said on Monday new competition laws were required in response to the rapid expansion of digital platforms such as Amazon (AMZN.O), Apple (AAPL.O), Google (GOOGL.O), Meta (META.O) and Microsoft (MSFT.O) in the country. "Our proposed reforms include a call for targeted consumer protections and service-specific codes to prevent anti-competitive conduct by particular designated digital platforms," ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said. The aforementioned five digital platforms did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for a comment. The regulator has also proposed new mandatory obligations on all digital platforms to address scams, harmful apps, fake reviews, including notice and action requirements and stronger verification of business users and reviews. Must ensure competition laws are fit-for-purpose to respond to the potential challenges posed by emerging technologies such as generative AI and virtual reality, ACCC said.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Gina Cass, Gottlieb, Ayushman Ojha, Sherry Jacob, Phillips, Tom Hogue Organizations: Facebook, REUTERS, Apple, Google, Microsoft, Australian Competition, Consumer Commission, Digital, ACCC, Reuters, Thomson

☆ You’re Probably Falling for Fake Product Reviews
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( Josh Zumbrun | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

An increase in an item’s star rating can significantly improve the product’s position in online searches. Photo: Jenny Kane/Associated PressIf you’re a frequent online shopper, you know there are fake reviews on the internet, and probably think they don’t sway you. I thought so, too. Then I spoke to Brett Hollenbeck , a University of California, Los Angeles professor who has studied how we really respond to fake reviews and those ubiquitous little numbers: 4.5 stars, 4.8 stars, 4.2 stars.

Persons: Jenny Kane, Brett Hollenbeck Organizations: Associated, University of California Locations: Los Angeles

☆ Spain's watchdog clears Amazon, Booking.com, Tripadvisor over fake reviews
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The logo of Amazon is seen at the company logistics centre in Boves, France, October 6, 2021 REUTERS/Pascal Rossignol/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 22 (Reuters) - Spain's anti-trust watchdog on Wednesday cleared Amazon (AMZN.O), Booking Holdings (BKNG.O) and Tripadvisor (TRIP.O) of participating in or facilitating fake reviews on their websites. CNMC, as the watchdog is known had been looking into a complaint lodged by a local association defending consumers. "CNMC found no indication that the platforms have participated in or facilitated the publication of these false opinions," it said in a statement, adding that the companies invested in detecting fake reviews and collaborated with ongoing investigations. The watchdog has, however, detected possible signs of a violation of consumer protection regulations, and therefore sent the complaint to the consumer rights authority. An Amazon spokesperson said his company is acting against fake reviews on its websites.

Persons: Pascal, CNMC, Tripadvisor, Maria Luiza Amaral, Inti Landauro, Elaine Hardcastle Organizations: Booking Holdings, Amazon, Thomson Locations: Boves, France

☆ Fake Reviews Are Rampant Online. Can a Crackdown End Them?
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Stuart A. Thompson | More About Stuart A. Thompson | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

His review was fake — part of an effort to boost the online ratings for Dr. Mohrmann’s business using phony positive reviews, according to an analysis by Fake Review Watch, an industry watchdog. Last month, Dr. Mohrmann agreed to pay a $100,000 penalty to settle with New York’s attorney general on charges of deceiving the public with fake reviews. The fake review for Dr. Mohrmann is just one example of the billion-dollar fake review industry, where people and businesses pay marketers to post fake positive reviews to Google Maps, Amazon, Yelp and other platforms, and deceive millions of customers each year. Fake reviews are as old as the internet itself, and they are illegal and banned by online platforms. But fake review businesses have continued to blossom anyway.

Persons: Mark J, Mohrmann, Yelp, “ Dr, Mark Organizations: Fake Review, New, Google

☆ Is that $35 Apple Watch real? How misleading TikTok influencer videos could be the next big headache in e-commerce
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Dan Whateley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Tyler linked his post to a $34.88 smartwatch available on TikTok Shop from a merchant called MoonMates, which did not represent the item as Apple-made. Because the video featured a TikTok Shop tag, Tyler was likely eligible for a commission on any watch sales his video generated. Others may do it unintentionally because they're not entirely sure whether a steeply discounted TikTok Shop product is authentic. If false video reviews proliferate across TikTok Shop, it could pose an existential risk for the nascent e-commerce platform. TikTok user Vincent Patritto went viral in September after promoting a pair of Crocs that were available on TikTok Shop.

Persons: Austin Tyler, Tyler, TikTok, they're, Brett Hollenbeck, Hollenbeck, it's, Vincent Patritto, they've, Patritto, Lululemon Athletica, Influencers, aren't Organizations: Apple, Apple Watch, Shop, UCLA's Anderson School of Management, New, Prime, YouTube, Expedia, UCLA

☆ Yelp has recorded every restaurant and business with suspicious reviews. See if your favorite spot is on the list.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Sarah Jackson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

In a Yelp survey, 9 out of 10 people said they read online reviews to inform their buying decisions. Previously, these alerts have been only temporarily listed on the the businesses' Yelp pages. Seventy percent of respondents said it's rare for them to visit a new business without looking at online reviews firstYelp has been plagued with fake or manipulated reviews for years. A 2013 study found that 20% of all Yelp reviews at the time were fake. AdvertisementAdvertisementCheck out Yelp's index of flagged businesses here to see if your favorite establishment made the list.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, Federal Trade Commission, Apple, Facebook, Walmart, Target, FTC

☆ People mocked me and said my essay-writing business was screwed when ChatGPT came out. So I fought like hell.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

Killer Papers is an online tutoring and essay-writing website. Through all this, Killer Papers continued to grow and saw a 70% year-over-year revenue growth from 2021 to 2022. From June 1st through August 25th of this year, revenue at Killer Papers grew almost 35% yearly. For now, I'll continue to focus on differentiating Killer Papers, adding new products and services, and adapting to changes in academia. Somewhere along the way, we'll find out how Killer Papers fits into this new AI landscape as well.

Persons: I'm, I've, ChatGPT, —, Napoleon Bonaparte, envied, Romeo, Juliet, Alan, hadn't, they're, there's, it's, we'll Organizations: Service, Business, Public, Stanford, UC Berkeley, Microsoft Locations: Wall, Silicon, Canada, Niagra

☆ Fake Taylor Swift tickets, student loan forgiveness: 4 top scams that targeted consumers this summer
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( Lorie Konish | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Taylor Swift performs onstage during "Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour" at SoFi Stadium on August 09, 2023 in Inglewood, California. Concert and event ticket scamsFans were especially eager to see big-ticket acts like Beyonce and Taylor Swift as they toured this summer. Vacation lodging scamsVacationers who sought rentals or other services in popular destinations may have found themselves prey to fake listings. Such vacation scams meant travelers could find themselves out money as well as a place to stay. "But at the end of the day, those listings are fake listings, which puts consumers at risk," he said.

Persons: Taylor Swift, Kevin Winter, Beyonce, Fabara, Rob Bonta, Letitia James, Roomster, James, Tashdique Mehtaj Ahmed Organizations: Getty, Visa, New York, Federal Trade Commission, FTC, Federal Student Aid Locations: Inglewood , California, California, U.S, York

☆ Fake goods are everywhere online, experts say. Here's how to spot them.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Mary Hanbury | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

New technology and the rise of online shopping has made it easier for scammers to sell fakes. These are the top tips to avoid buying a fake online. The rise of online shopping, particularly during the pandemic, fueled the market for counterfeit products. Here are six tips from experts on what to watch out for when you're shopping online:1. If you see any of these warning signs, the product very well could be fake," the IACC warns online.

Persons: Joe Simone, DK Lee, Jen Hanks, Lee, It's, Ben T, Smith IV, Kearney, Simone, Bob Barchiesi, Insider's Hillary Hoffower, Smith, it's Organizations: Service, Economic Co, Trade, eBay, Walmart, American Apparel & Footwear Association, Amazon, International Anticounterfeiting Coalition Locations: Wall, Silicon, Hong Kong

☆ Amazon employees leak secret info that marketplace sellers can buy on Telegram
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( Annie Palmer | In Annierpalmer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

For a fee of $200 to $400, sellers can pay for services like "Amazon Magic," as one broker on encrypted messaging service Telegram calls it. The Telegram group has over 13,000 members, and it's far from the only one. A public Facebook page identified by CNBC offers an internal screenshot service with "valuable insight into your seller account, allowing you to see how Amazon employees view your account and its performance." Account annotations, internal notes from an Amazon staffer on a seller's account, were among the confidential data being exchanged between the defendants and employees. The Amazon Magic group on Telegram is public, with users advertising black hat services almost daily.

Persons: Johnny Milano, Christy Distefano, Remi Vaughn Organizations: Bloomberg, Getty, Telegram, Facebook Groups, Walmart, CNBC, Facebook, Amazon ., LinkedIn, Amazon, Street Journal, Department of Justice, FBI Locations: Melville , New York, China, India, Costa Rica, Ukraine

☆ A Twitter user found scam numbers for major airlines on Google Maps. Google is working to fix it
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Jennifer Korn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —Google is working to fix false contact information for some major airlines on Google Maps after a Twitter user found a phone number actually connected callers to scammers. Phone numbers appeared to be altered on Google Maps listings for multiple airlines’ locations at John F Kennedy and LaGuardia airports in New York. Impacted airlines included Delta, American, Southwest and Qantas, the user claimed in a widely viewed post. The Twitter user detailed his experience trying to contact Delta after a canceled flight left him googling for a help line to rebook. Impacted businesses like airlines are able to flag concerns to both Google and law enforcement over suspected scammers.

Persons: John F Kennedy, ” Shmuli Evers, Evers, “, Delta Organizations: New, New York CNN, Google, LaGuardia, Southwest, Qantas, Delta, CNN, “ Locations: New York, Delta, Newark

☆ The FTC wants to make it harder to publish fake reviews
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-01 | by ( Ramishah Maruf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

It would ban fake reviews, suppressing negative reviews and paying for positive reviews. Amazon in particular has been dealing with fake reviews on its third-party marketplace for years, suing the administrators of Facebook groups who facilitated the purchase and sale of fake reviews. The commission has taken strong enforcement action in the past on fake reviews, but said it might not be enough without civil penalty authority. Businesses also would not be able to offer any incentives for writing positive reviews and would prohibit company officers and managers from writing reviews without disclosing their roles. They also wouldn’t be able to make company controlled review websites or buy fake followers or views on social media.

Persons: ” Samuel Levine Organizations: New, New York CNN, Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Protection, Google, Facebook, FTC, Bountiful Locations: New York, FTC’s

☆ FTC seeks to ban fake reviews with new proposed rule
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Annie Palmer | In Annierpalmer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The Federal Trade Commission on Friday proposed a new rule that seeks to ban fake online reviews, marking its most aggressive step yet to thwart review fraud. Fake reviews and review abuse have been a persistent issue for online platforms such as Amazon , Google and Yelp . Bad actors often rely on fake reviews to boost their products in search results and drive more sales. Amazon, which has struggled to combat fake reviews on its third-party marketplace, has increasingly gone after fake review brokers and Facebook group administrators in court. The agency has filed several other cases in recent years against companies that used fake reviews to sell products online, and blocked their users from leaving negative reviews.

Persons: Samuel Levine Organizations: Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Protection, Google, Facebook, FTC, Bountiful, CNBC Locations: FTC's

Fake reviews have been a recurring problem on internet commerce sites. Google said Hu buys thousands of fake positive reviews to make the businesses appear legitimate. He then allegedly sells the profiles as "leads" to real businesses in the same fields, which receive contacts from potential customers who reach out to the fake businesses. Google said Hu created more than 350 false profiles bolstered by over 14,000 illegitimate reviews. The lawsuit accused Hu of false advertising, unlawful business practices and violating Google's terms of service.

Persons: Ethan QiQi Hu, Hu, Cooley, Blake Brittain Organizations: Google, Northern, Northern District of, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles, San Jose , California, Hu, U.S, Northern District, Northern District of California, Washington

☆ AI chatbots like ChatGPT appear to be leaving product reviews on Amazon
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Aaron Mok | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Some Amazon users appear to be employing AI chatbots to write product reviews, CNBC first reported. CNBC conducted a search on Amazon product reviews and found many that said they weren't written by humans. Similar Amazon reviews that contained the phrase "as an AI language model" also appear on a LED aquarium light, waist trimmer, and children's workbook. These reviews may be the next frontier of fake Amazon product reviews, an issue that Amazon has dealt with in the past. While the AI-generated reviews still appear on the site, the Amazon spokesperson said that it will remove product reviews it deems fake.

Reviews from these members often appear as an "Amazon Vine Review" or a "Vine Voice." Amazon said it prohibits review abuse, including offering incentives like gift cards to write positive reviews. The rise of ChatGPT and other AI chatbots could make it easier for bad actors to generate fraudulent reviews. Third-party sellers on Amazon are already using the tool to help write product listings and catchy titles, as well as marketing copy. WATCH: Many of the reviews on Amazon are fake, here's how to spot them

☆ FTC Alleges Supplement Company ‘Hijacked’ Amazon Reviews to Boost Sales
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( Megan Graham | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +4 min

Nutritional supplement company Bountiful Co. will pay $600,000 following Federal Trade Commission allegations that it made products on Amazon look like they had more reviews and higher average ratings than they really did. The FTC said the case marks its first enforcement action against a practice called “review hijacking,” in which a marketer makes reviews for one product appear to apply to another. Products considered variations share the same product page on Amazon as alternate choices, such as a T-shirt offered in multiple colors. The FTC said the decision to accept the proposed consent agreement was unanimous, with the commission voting 4-0 in favor of doing so. Though Amazon has been active in pursuit of fake review sellers, Mr. Freund said problems remain.

☆ Roomster must face lawsuit by U.S. FTC, six states over fake reviews
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( Jonathan Stempel | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NEW YORK, Feb 1 (Reuters) - A U.S. judge on Wednesday ordered the roommate matching service Roomster to face a lawsuit by the Federal Trade Commission and six states claiming it used fake listings and reviews to take millions of dollars from people struggling to find affordable housing. In seeking a dismissal, the defendants said they had ceased the alleged improper conduct in 2018, that the FTC lacked power to sue, and the user reviews were not deceptive under state laws. The lawsuit sought civil penalties and an injunction against violations of federal and state unfair trade laws. In October, the FTC sought public comment on whether to adopt a rule to combat deceptive or unfair endorsement practices, such as by using fake reviews, suppressing negative reviews and paying for positive reviews. The case is FTC et al v Roomster Corp et al, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No.

☆ FTC Weighs Stiff Penalties on Deceptive ‘Green’ Marketing
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Dieter Holger | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +6 min

Officials are seeking public comment until Feb. 21 on nonbinding guidelines for how companies can make environmental marketing claims without breaching federal laws prohibiting deceptive advertising. “People who want to buy green products generally have to trust what it says on the box.”The agency’s so-called Green Guides, launched in 1992 and last updated in 2012, outline principles that apply to environmental marketing claims. The FTC has brought federal lawsuits against companies for making deceptive environmental claims, and the guides are cited in marketing laws in states such as California. The breadth of terms being considered reflects the significant evolution of green marketing over the past decade and companies need clearer guidance, said Caiti Zeytoonian, a lawyer at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP who advises companies on green marketing and represents them before the FTC. Ms. Koss declined to say if the Supreme Court decision triggered the FTC’s consideration of new rules on green marketing.

Parafin, launched in 2020, works with so-called platform partners, or companies that other small businesses sell their products through. All the cofounders knew was that they wanted to build technology that would help small businesses. And they may not get their first contract payment from the government for as long as 120 days," Reed, the startup's CEO, told Insider. Helping small businesses manage their taxesComplYant's founder Shiloh Jackson wants to help people be present in their bookkeeping. HoneyBookWhile countless small businesses have been harmed by the pandemic, self-employment and entrepreneurship have found ways to blossom as Americans started new ventures.

☆ Is That Black Friday Sale Really a Deal? Ask These Shoppers
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-24 | by ( Ann-Marie Alcántara | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The holiday season is here—and so are the stresses that go with shopping for gifts. For years, shoppers have struggled with fake reviews on Amazon and influencers hawking products for pay on their feeds. Now, they’re also facing rising inflation and shorter return windows.

NEW DELHI/BENGALURU, Nov 21 (Reuters) - India launched a crack down on Monday against fake reviews and unverified ratings in a bid to make online interaction and e-commerce more authentic and less misleading for users. Some companies have been criticised by consumers and various industry experts for downplaying negative reviews, or accepting fake ratings, making the vetting process difficult for buyers. The Department of Consumer Affairs set up a committee in June to develop a framework on checking fake and deceptive reviews in e-commerce, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution said. Online companies say they have internal checks in place to combat fake reviews, but currently failure to do so is not a compliance breach. If the guidelines become mandatory, companies could face action for unfair trade practice, for suppressing negative reviews or for enabling planting of fake reviews, Taparia said.

The four FTC commissioners voted three to one to begin the lengthy process of writing rules by seeking comments on the prevalence of fraudulent online reviews and junk fees. These are sometimes labeled "service charges" on phone bills or imposed by hotels as "resort fees." FTC guidelines already say that posting fake reviews and endorsements is illegal. And it has proposed a rule to ban junk fees by car sellers. The commission also voted to begin the process of updating existing rules governing funeral homes.

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