You got an unexpected package from Temu or Amazon: It might be a brushing scam, where third-party sellers send something you never asked for to fake a verified purchase and post reviews using your name. If it happens to you, check your order history to see if you were charged. Then, change your password, because someone may be in your account. Either way, you can keep the stuff.
Here's why you still can't trust product reviews on Amazon
Unlike so many other businesses, Amazon saw growth during the pandemic as people ordered their stuff, essential or otherwise, for delivery.
Do you ever take a moment to review your orders? You may have so many packages delivered that you wouldn’t miss one. You can check your order history in your Amazon account anytime, but you can also download your entire purchase history in a spreadsheet. Tap or click here to learn how.
Reviews are helpful when making any purchase, but you can’t always trust them. Fake reviews are a constant issue with Amazon, and it doesn’t seem like they are going away anytime soon.
Here’s the backstory
A recent study by U.K. consumer organization Which? revealed that nine out of 10 of the highest-rated Bluetooth headphones sold on Amazon were boosted by fake reviews. On top of that, some of these reviews have nothing to do with headphones at all.
Two of the nine listings had the Amazon’s Choice badge and were for completely unrelated products, including a stuffed bear and an extension cable that customers had cited as a fire hazard. Other headphone listings included reviews for puzzles and umbrellas.
The study found that these products climbed the ranks via review merging. This is a process used by legitimate sellers for related products they are selling under different listings, such as those that come in different colors.
Review merging is not allowed for unrelated products, but that’s what’s happening here. Bad actors use this method to inflate a product’s review score by hijacking reviews from other listings.
A big problem
Amazon removed 200 million suspected fake reviews in 2020 before customers saw them. It’s not always easy to spot these types of reviews, but there are some tips to avoid getting duped:
- Poor or robotic spelling and grammar errors are red flags.
- Keep an eye out for examples of review merging. Look for descriptions that don’t fit the product.
- Look for a high number of glowing reviews for a product submitted within a short time.
- If several reviews closely match each other, they were likely written by bots.
- Generic and vague reviews are also warning signs.
You can go a step further and take action against fake reviews:
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
New steps to download your entire order history on Amazon
How many Amazon purchases have you made in the last few months? Quite a few, right? But do you know the actual number of purchases you’ve made over the previous 30 days? Probably not off the top of your head, but it’s important to keep your eyes on what you’ve ordered.
Easy way to see everything you've ever ordered on Amazon
With free and super-fast shipping on millions of products, Amazon has become a convenient place to get, well, everything.
However, if you are ordering from Amazon constantly, it’s easy to forget about a package or two. You might not notice when one package goes missing if it’s an insignificant item. So how do you keep track?
Privacy check: 5 Amazon security settings you need to change
Amazon is an essential service for most folks on the internet. That’s why more people are looking at Amazon with skepticism each day — especially in light of its privacy missteps. Click or tap to learn how to stop Amazon from listening to your Alexa conversations.
6 changes Amazon has made you need to know about
If you’re a regular Amazon user, you know exactly what to expect from the site. You know how to navigate the site, complete returns, and price shop among the sellers to find the best deal on what you’re looking for.
There’s a reason we have all become Amazon fans over the past few years. The site is incredibly easy to use, and you can load up on shelf-stable pantry items, nail polish, collector’s items, and all of the tech gadgets you desire with a few clicks of the mouse. Tap or click here to safely disinfect your Amazon deliveries.