Amazon Review Manipulation

Amazon review manipulation refers to artificially influencing customer reviews on Amazon’s digital marketplace. Disreputable sellers typically engage in this practice to boost the perception of their products and gain an advantage in their category. Review manipulation is a dishonest and fraudulent business practice, strictly and explicitly prohibited under section 3 of Amazon’s Business Solutions Agreement, which all sellers must agree to in order to operate on the platform. Violations of this policy can result in Amazon suspension, where sellers lose access to their accounts and product listings.

What are the methods of Amazon review manipulation?

Amazon views review manipulation as any attempt to sway customer feedback through means that are misleading or otherwise unethical. The following are some commonly employed methods of review manipulation, all of which are prohibited under Amazon’s policies.

• False reviews: A seller generates false positive reviews for their products, either by utilizing bots or offering payment to individuals, in order to boost the ranking of those products.
• Incentivized reviews: Instead of offering cash payment, a seller offers incentives such as discounts or gifts to users in order to garner positive reviews for their products.
• Mutual reviewing: Two sellers work in coordination with one another, agreeing to exchange positive reviews as part of a “quid pro quo” arrangement.
• “Friends and family” reviews: A seller asks their friends, family members, or employees to leave positive feedback on their products, creating a false impression of their quality.
• Bribing or harassment: A seller contacts a customer, offering some form of payment or threatening them so that they will edit or delete negative reviews.
• Review hijacking: A seller edits the listing of a well-reviewed but discontinued product, changing the product listed by retaining the URL and positive reviews to create a false perception of the newly listed product.

How does Amazon deal with review manipulation?

Amazon takes review manipulation seriously and has a variety of mechanisms in place to prevent, detect, and penalize this behavior. The following are some key measures that Amazon has taken against review manipulation:

• Automated detection systems: Amazon has automated systems in place that utilize artificial intelligence and machine learning to identify suspicious review patterns and flag sellers for further investigation.
• Manual auditing: Amazon’s internal teams review sellers who have been reported by customers or whose activities have been flagged as suspicious, and take corrective action where required. This may involve the removal of products from the marketplace, withholding sellers’ funds, or suspending or terminating the seller accounts.Sellers affected by these penalties may need to submit an Amazon suspension appeal to request a review of their case
• Legal action: In cases of egregious violations, such as large-scale manipulation schemes, Amazon may opt to file a lawsuit against those responsible. Amazon also coordinates with regulatory bodies such as the Federal Trade Commission and the European Commission to enforce legal action against sellers who commit fraud on its platform.
• Policy updates: Amazon continually updates its guidelines and policies to prevent fraudulent sellers from exploiting loopholes. Amazon provides all sellers with notification about policy changes so as to ensure compliance and avoid potential violations. To regain compliance and reinstate their accounts, sellers may be required to submit an Amazon plan of action, detailing corrective measures and commitments to following Amazon’s policies.