MILAN, Oct 21 (Reuters) – U.S. e-commerce big Amazon (AMZN.O) mentioned on Thursday it had filed authorized complaints in Italy and Spain because it steps up efforts globally to close down pretend overview brokers.
Amazon has lengthy been battling with pretend or manipulated opinions and the issue has solely worsened as extra individuals flocked to its web site for buying throughout the coronavirus lockdowns.
Tens of 1000’s of individuals have joined devoted channels on the Telegram instantaneous messaging web site the place nameless intermediaries signal individuals as much as write glowing five-star opinions for merchandise on Amazon in return for monetary reward.
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“We proceed to enhance our proactive controls, invent new applied sciences and machine studying to detect dangerous actors, and discover new methods to carry them accountable,” Dharmesh Mehta, Amazon’s Vice President of Promoting Associate Companies, mentioned in an announcement.
In its first prison criticism in Europe, Amazon mentioned it was focusing on a “high-profile dealer in Italy promoting pretend opinions,” however didn’t identify the individual.
The retailer mentioned the defendant was claiming to have constructed a community of people prepared to purchase merchandise on its web site and put up five-star opinions in change for a full refund.
4- and five-star opinions can assist gross sales, particularly if prospects understand them as unbiased.
Amazon additionally filed a civil criticism in Spain in opposition to AgenciaReviews, alleging the Spanish-based operator was absolutely reimbursing prospects as soon as they publish a pretend five-star overview.
AgenciaReviews mentioned in an announcement late on Thursday that its channel labored solely as a tester programme and consumers weren’t compelled at any level within the course of to go away five-star opinions.
Amazon’s strikes in Europe add to an rising variety of lawsuits filed in america.
The corporate additionally mentioned it had despatched warnings to 5 web sites in Germany that had been directing guests to a pretend overview dealer, including that each one have since agreed to cease this exercise by signing a stop and desist letter.
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Reporting by Agnieszka Flak
Enhancing by Keith Weir
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