Hey everyone, Doug here with an update and a scandal about on-line ratings and reviews. Sounds kind of droll and mundane compared to my usual troll self, but it is juicy! It started with my spousal unit looking up the ratings for the charity Kars4Kids. She noted that on a list of the WORST charities, Kars4Kids ranked #23rd worst in the world. Aww, but the jingle is so Groovacious and catchy. She also noted that one website giving this charity a good review was Trustpilot. Every other charity ranking site gave it a 1 star or poor review. So, it isn’t just me. But what’s up with Trustpilot? Could the others be wrong? That’s the update. Now the big enchilada. Here’s how the paid reviews scam works:
Trustpilot has been investigated and found to have some interesting and sleazy marketing practices. Quoting the British publication, The Guardian: “trustpilot.com claims to have millions of ‘authentic reviews from actual customers’ to help shoppers buy online with confidence”. But investigative reports reveal “fake reviewing on an almost industrial scale, with companies paying offshore contractors to post numerous glowing accounts of their …” let your imagination fill in the product. But Trustpilot is just one of MANY! There’s an army working to make this happen. People do fake reviews as a gig-job for a few dollars a pop! Professional reviewers advertising online to do fake reviews for YOUR business.
Does it feel to you, like it does to me, that every business has a 4.5-5.0 star rating these days? Even the lousy dives that you and your friends KNOW really suck. Ergo, Five Star reviews are for sale folks. Reputations are being built on fake reviews bought from dirtbag phonies online. Charities, restaurants, plumbers, hotels, basically any service industry or business can cheat and lie for profit. Consumers are gullible, right? All good? Of course, it is! Saps born every second. Here is a link to a fascinating video investigation by Canada’s CBC network titled “Fake online reviews: How easily you can buy a reputation”. Definitely worth a look to see for yourself.
www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Trustpilot+Scam&ru=%2fvideos%2fsearch%3fq%3dTrustpilot%2bScam%26FORM%3dVARSQP&view=detail&mid=F9DB095B83FA4624AA13F9DB095B83FA4624AA13&&FORM=VDRVRV
This exposé video report is FASCINATING stuff, yes? Fake reviews paid for by businesses and submitted by professional Bullshitters is a cottage industry. These fake reviews show up on the websites of the companies purposely and folks like us think they’re real. That’s the whole point. Consequently, sales go up, up, up. In a world of fake everything (Except for me. I’m as real as real can get) this, sadly, fails to surprise me. The bottom line makes it all okay, like always baby. Need me to do a review for you? Just show me the money baby!