Posts Tagged &#8216;Fake Reviews&#8217;

The challenges KwikChex made against fake reviews got us noticed in the first few months of launching our services when we were invited to appear on BBC TV’s flagship technology programme ‘Click’. Spencer Kelly, host of the ‘Click’ programme visited our offices in Bournemouth and KwikChex director and founder Chris Emmins took him through the […]

KwikChex on BBC Radio 5 Live Investigates Online Reviews Under Fire Again

22nd June 2018

BBC, BBC 5 Live Investigates, BBC NEWS, BBC Radio, Chris Emmins, defamation, Fake Reviews, KwikChex, Online review, Online Reviews, Online Reviews for Sale, tripadvisor, www.kwikchex.com

All News/Blog, BBC, KwikChex In The Media, News

KwikChex has once again assisted BBC investigative journalists, providing information on problems with online reviews websites. Director and Co-Founder of KwikChex, Chris Emmins was also interviewed on Adrian Goldberg’s programme. – discussing how TripAdvisor prioritise Online Travel Agents (OTAs) that pay TripAdvisor in their search results. TripAdvisor now prefers consumers to see ‘deals’ from their OTA […]

The Sun highlights KwikChex exposure of fake reviews

23rd October 2016

Fake Reviews, Kathryn Cain, KwikChex, The Sun, tripadvisor

Credits: The Sun, by Kathryn Cain ‘CHINESE fraudsters operating a sophisticated “fake reader factory” have taken down travel website TripAdvisor’s page on the country’s top social media app.’ ‘Two years ago a Bournemouth-based online reputation management company cast specific doubt on the integrity of TripAdvisor’s Chinese operation. Chris Emmins, co-founder of KwikChex, found some “amazingly […]

KwikChex on BBC Radio Humberside

25th May 2016

BBC Radio, BBC Radio Humberside Online reviews, Fake Reviews, KwikChex, tripadvisor

BBC Radio Humberside Online reviews, fake reviews, TripAdvisor – includes interview with Chris Emmins, KwikChex. Listen here – https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03ts6nc (From 45 minutes).

Study finds high proportion of online hotel reviews suspicious

2nd May 2016

4hoteliers.com, Dr Markus Schuckert, Fake Reviews, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hotel Reviews, Professor Rob Law, tripadvisor

Credits: 4hoteliers.com, 26th April 2016 After examining more than forty thousand TripAdvisor reviews of all star-rated hotels in Hong Kong in a recently published study, the study warns that the high proportion of suspicious reviews should ring an ‘alarm bell’ for customers. Around 20% of online hotel customer reviews may be unreliable or fake, according […]

Amazon cracks down on fake reviews with another lawsuit

27th April 2016

Amazon, Fake Reviews, TechCrunch, TechCrunch.com

Credits: TechCrunch By Sarah Perez (@sarahintampa), 26th April 2016 Amazon is continuing its efforts to crack down on fake, paid-for reviews of the products it sells on its website, by filing yet another lawsuit against those who offer glowing reviews in exchange for cash. In this latest suit, filed on Friday, the company is targeting […]

Google ordered to hand over names of fake reviewers in Dutch court case

13th March 2016

Fake Reviews, Google, Google Reviews, TechCrunch, TechCrunch.com

Credits: TechCrunch By Ingrid Lunden (@ingridlunden), 8th March 2016 Fake reviews have been an occasional and frustrating by-product on sites like Google, Yelp and Amazon for years. But a recent case in the Netherlands highlights how one company affected by them fought back. A nursery in Amsterdam has won a case against Google in a civil court in the city […]

Government gets tough on fake online reviews

5th March 2016

Bighospitality.co.uk, CMA, consumer rights, Fake Reviews, review, Sophie Witts, tripadvisor

Credits: Bighospitality.co.uk, By Sophie Witts, 04-Mar-2016 Businesses which arrange for third parties to write fake positive reviews about them online are at risk of falling foul of consumer protection law, according to new guidance. Above excerpt and read the full article: bighospitality.co.uk

‘Fake’ online reviews could be made illegal

1st March 2016

Fake Reviews, Katie Morley, Telegraph

Credits: Telegraph By Katie Morley 1st March 2016 Companies that post fake reviews on websites to boost their ratings could face fines of thousands of pounds as part of a new Government crackdown on misleading business practices. The Telegraph understands that the Department for Business Innovation and Skills is considering banning the practice of writing or […]

KwikChex featured on BBC Click

24th June 2014

BBC Click, BBC NEWS, BBC Radio, Carolyn Wimpenny, Cream Wedding Photography, fake review, Fake Reviews, Google, Google Maps, www.creamphoto.co.uk, www.creamphotoworkshops.com

All News/Blog, BBC, Blog, KwikChex In The Media, Online Defamation News

BBC Click – The BBC’s flagship technology programme What happens to a business when somebody deliberately fakes online feedback… Click Here to listen to the Interview

It’s the hotel review website that millions use to help choose their holiday. But… Can you trust a single word on Trip Advisor?

5th August 2013

Dexby Townhouse, Fake Reviews, KwikChex, Mail Online, Mark Palmer, Oscar's restaurant, tripadvisor, Ziggys Spice House

Credits: Mail Online, By: Mark Palmer ‘By sharing all your experiences, you’re helping other travellers make better choices and plan their dream trips. That’s what you are told before posting a review of a hotel or restaurant on the website TripAdvisor. But better choices and dream trips don’t always come into it. You might just […]

Accor suspends exec who posted fake reviews

5th June 2013

Accor, Danny King, Fake Reviews, KwikChex, Travel Weekly, tripadvisor

Credits: Travel Weekly, USA By: Danny King ‘Paris-based hotelier Accor said it had placed one of its executives on a leave of absence after learning that he had posted more than 100 reviews of both Accor-operated hotels and competing properties on TripAdvisor under an assumed alias.’ ‘The U.K.-based online reputation-management firm KwikChex identified Peter Hook, […]

Samsung probed in Taiwan over ‘fake web reviews’

17th April 2013

BBC NEWS, Fake Reviews, false advertising, HTC, online defamation, Samsung, Taiwan

Credits: BBC News ‘Fair-trade officials in Taiwan are looking into reports that Samsung paid people to criticise rival HTC online. Samsung is alleged to have hired students to post negative comments about phones made by Taiwan’s HTC. If found guilty of engaging in “false advertising”, Samsung and its local agent could face fines of up […]

Amazon deletes thousands of obviously fake book reviews to the anger of several authors

4th January 2013

Amazon, Daily Mail, Damian Ghigliotty, Fake Reviews, Mail Online

Credits: Mail Online By Damian Ghigliotty * Writers say thousands of mostly positive book reviews have been deleted from the online shopping site in recent months * Amazon will not disclose how many reviews it has erased * Several writers have voiced frustrations with the move * Others are pushing for more vetting of book reviews Amazon […]

Fraudulent social reviews, both positive and negative, on the rise

13th October 2012

BtoBonline.com, Christopher Hosford, Fake Reviews, Gartner, KwikChex, www.btobonline.com

Credits: BtoBonline.com By: Christopher Hosford ‘Brand and reputation management is considered a key element of social media marketing. But what happens when forums, blogs, tweets and “likes” are sabotaged by hackers, competitors and other villains intent on destroying a company’s reputation? As many as 15% of online reviews will be fake by 2014, according to […]

RJ Ellory admits posting fake book reviews over past 10 years

6th September 2012

Fake book reviews, Fake Reviews, KwikChex

Credits: The Independent By: Andrew Hough “Amid a growing worldwide backlash against the “underhand tactics, the 47 year-old disclosed that he had written at least a dozen posts on the internet using pseudonyms.” Above excerpt and full article on www.independent.co.uk

Comment on Leeds food poisoning case

5th September 2012

Fake Reviews, food poisoning, Food Poisoning Help, https://foodpoisoninghelp.info, hygiene failure, KwikChex, The Red Chilli

You can view the original story ‘Leeds restaurant fined after bug poisons 23’ – that we featured on our new food poisoning help website by clicking here. The restaurant featured in the story, the Red Chilli in Leeds was inspected last July / August. The article reports that the mitigation included the owners addressing the problems straight […]

TV chef Blumenthal may be latest victim of malicious web users posting fake reviews

4th September 2012

Chris Emmins, Fake Reviews, food poisoning, Heston Blumenthal, KwikChex, Sarah Bridge, The Mail on Sunday, This is Money, www.thisismoney.co.uk

Credits: The Mail on Sunday (This is Money) By: Sarah Bridge ‘It is every cook’s worst nightmare. Celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal has just been accused of giving diners food poisoning.’ ‘However, rather than being a genuine case, it seems that Heston may be the latest victim of a growing trend in which people put fake […]

Forget paid journos, beware the paid aam aadmi reviewer

3rd September 2012

aam aadmi, Fake Reviews, Firstpost, Review Writer, Sandip Roy, www.firstpost.com

Credits: Firstpost By: Sandip Roy ‘Fake Review Writer is actually a bona fide job category these days. You can find it on the website Freelancer.com alongside more traditional freelancing jobs such as Java programmers and telemarketers. Someone wants 5K fake Facebook likes as fast as possible. At the time I checked, there were three bids for that […]

Fake Reviews: Amazon’s Rotten Core

2nd September 2012

Amazon, Fake Reviews, Forbes, Suw Charman-Anderson, www.forbes.com

Credits: Forbes By: Suw Charman-Anderson, Contributor ‘The web has created some fantastic opportunities for authors, publishers and self-publishers alike, but this summer has seen the industry’s dark underbelly revealed in all its venal, pustulant ignominy.’ ‘…successful author Stephen Leather confessed, during an on-stage panel discussion, that he used fake accounts to write reviews and promote […]

Truth, Lies & Utter Confusion in UK Food Hygiene

13th August 2012

defamation, Fake Reviews, food hygiene, food poisoning, Food Poisoning Help, food safety, KwikChex

In the latest research by KwikChex – into thousands of online allegations of food poisoning, the results showed some eyebrow-raising statistics and cases. There are certainly well over 100,000 online allegations of food poisoning in the UK alone. Of 200 cases where KwikChex has been asked for assistance by business owners claiming false allegations, there […]

Does TripAdvisor have a problem with fake reviews?

10th July 2012

Christopher Elliott, Fake Reviews, The Seattle Times, tripadvisor

Credits: The Seattle Times By: Christopher Elliott ‘Online travel giant isn’t very transparent about the way it operates, says columnist Christopher Elliott.’ ‘TripAdvisor.com, which claims to be the world’s largest travel site, bills itself as a place that offers “trusted advice from real travelers.” Corcoran, an office administrator in Baltimore, says that trust was broken when […]

Who Has The Most Fake Consumer Reviewers?

25th June 2012

Allison McCann, BuzzFeed, Fake Reviews, KwikChex, tripadvisor, Yelp

Credits: BuzzFeed By: Allison McCann ‘Go on TripAdvisor’s UK site and you can no longer find the “reviews you can trust” slogan anywhere on the page (it still exists in the US, in tiny grey print near the bottom of the page.) Legally forced to remove the phrase, soon they might just have to say […]

Resolved Cases

1st June 2012

Fake Reviews, KwikChex, Resolved Cases, tripadvisor

A short summary of some of the cases that KwikChex has recently taken onboard and resolved. Google Blog Online Hate Campaign Halted A hate campaign waged against a family by a person infatuated and rejected by one of the daughters was brought to a halt by KwikChex. The family had tried in vain for 6 […]

BBC Fake Britain investigates fake reviews on TripAdvisor

24th May 2012

BBC, BBC Fake Britain, BBC Radio, Fake Reviews, Hastings, Howarth House, KwikChex, Medieval Lodge, St Annes, tripadvisor, UK

BBC Fake Britain investigates the damage caused by fake Trip Advisor reviews to KwikChex Members Howarth House and Medieval Lodge. The Broadcast on the iPlayer has now expired – the next available viewing according to BBC is at 02:55am Thursday 7th June BBC1

New UK defamation laws

14th May 2012

defamation, Fake Reviews, Google, KwikChex, laws, New UK defamation laws, Queen's Speech, reviews, Reviews sites, tripadvisor, UK

The proposed changes to UK defamation laws that were included in the Queen's Speech last week would have a profound effect on online reviews. The government has made clear its intentions to support free speech, while also enabling claimants to protect their reputation by securing removal of defamatory material without undue delay - and to [...]

Cyber bully attacks funeral firm with ‘fake’ reviews

16th April 2012

Cyber bully, Enfield Independent, Fake Reviews, funeral directors, funeral firm, Hermione Wright, KwikChex, Melville and Daughters, Melville and Daughters funeral directors, Tottenham

Credits: Enfield Independent By: Hermione Wright ‘A cyber bully is playing with the future of a Tottenham funeral firm by leaving ‘fake’ feedback on a major review website.’ ‘Damian Melville, 33, opened Melville and Daughters funeral directors in West Green Road two years ago to ensure future job security for his five-year-old and 12-year-old daughter when […]

BBC Fast Track reports on fake reviews and the ASA ruling on TripAdvisor

5th April 2012

ASA, BBC, BBC Radio, Fake Reviews, Fast Track, tripadvisor

“Reviews You Can Trust”. It always was a bold slogan, but last month Tripadvisor was officially told to remove it from its British website. The country’s advertising watchdog decided you couldn’t tell which reviews were real, and which were simply made-up. But now, one similar site says it may have found a way. Keith […]

Problems for TripAdvisor

13th March 2012

Buccament Bay, Fake Reviews, reviews, St Vincent, tripadvisor

If ever a single case epitomised the problems for TripAdvisor, it has to be Buccament Bay, St Vincent. On 7th March, a reviewer claimed that a previous 5 star, glowing review she had written last year was bogus. She stated that it was one of many fake reviews posted by investors in the property and even [...]

KwikChex statement re ASA ruling on complaint against TripAdvisor

1st February 2012

ASA, Expedia, Fake Reviews, KwikChex, reviews, ruling, tripadvisor, verification

The complaint centred on TripAdvisor’s claims of the trustworthiness and reliability of reviews posted on their website. It was made because of what we regarded as exaggerated claims by TripAdvisor regarding the trustworthiness of reviews on their website, which are all unsubstantiated – without even verification that authors of comments left on the site are […]

KwikChex and BBC News successful again over fake review removal

11th January 2012

BBC, BBC NEWS, BBC Radio, Fake Reviews, Hastings, KwikChex, Medieval Lodge, tripadvisor, UK

KwikChex member Medieval Lodge in Hastings, UK today had a fake review removed from their TripAdvisor profile after the BBC reported the distress and damage being caused on their flagship breakfast news programme. KwikChex has traced the person responsible and is considering further action. Watch the BBC news clip. Further information and update on this […]

BBC Brasil article ‘Fake Reviews affecting online retailers’ – translated

30th September 2011

BBC, BBC Brasil, brazil, Fake Reviews, Thomas Pappone, translated

English translation – see original article and images on BBC Brasil – click here Fake Reviews affecting online retailers – authorities concerned Thomas Pappone BBC Brasil in London Updated September 30, 2011 – 10:02 (GMT) 13:02 GMT “My husband and I stayed at the James Chicago Hotel for our anniversary. This place is fantastic! Once […]

‘Fake’ reviews on TripAdvisor a real problem for hoteliers

23rd September 2011

Advertising Standards Agency, ASA, Fake Reviews, Karlin Lillington, KwikChex, The Irish Times, tripadvisor, www.irishtimes.com

Credits: The Irish Times By: Karlin Lillington “In the UK, that anger has bubbled over into a complaint brought to the country’s Advertising Standards Agency by online reputation management company KwikChex, representing some 2,000 UK hotels.” “Kwikchex co-founder Chris Emmins told the Telegraph that the company made a similar complaint on behalf of hotels and restaurants […]

Government Investigates Fake TripAdvisor Reviews

12th September 2011

Advertising Standards Authority, ASA, Fake Reviews, Google, Kaleel Sakakeeny, KwikChex, reviews, Technorati, Technorati.com, tripadvisor

Credits: Technorati By: Kaleel Sakakeeny “Now we read in the usually reliable industry site, hotel marketing.com that the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority(ASA) is officially investigating the review giant because complaints have “reached monumental levels.” “If the ASA finds against TripAdvisor it could spell trouble for spin-off Expedia, a huge ad monger.” Above excerpts and full […]

TripAdvisor called into question over ‘fake’ reviews

7th September 2011

Fake Reviews, Google, KwikChex, Melanie Nayer, reviews, The Boston Globe, tripadvisor, www.boston.com

Credits: The Boston Globe By: Melanie Nayer “How many times have you Googled a hotel name and found a TripAdvisor review show up? How many times have you clicked on that link to read the review? How many of those reviews were fake?” Above excerpt and full article on The Boston Globe: www.boston.com

TripAdvisor’s Fake Reviews Sickness Goes Critical

2nd September 2011

Argophilia, ASA, Fake Reviews, KwikChex, Phillip Butler, tripadvisor, www.argophilia.com

Credits: Argophilia By: Phillip Butler “The allegations by many are that, hotels were paying “agents” to “boost” their reviews – and to make their competition look bad. The Christian Science Monitor goes so far as to say the “problem” with fake reviews and endorsements if even greater than TripAdvisor’s suggested 10 million fake endorsements, CSM […]

Pressure on TripAdvisor grows with media coverage and evidence from around the world

31st August 2011

Fake Reviews, france, Germany, Online Reviews, Portugal, Russia, The New York Times, tripadvisor, turkey, USA

More and more coverage is being given around the world to the problems of fake and unreliable online reviews – and the role of TripAdvisor in this growing phenomenon which is deceiving consumers and damaging many reputable businesses. USA The New York Times wrote about how “an industry of fibbers and promoters has sprung up […]

TripAdvisor still failing to spot fake reviews

21st August 2011

Fake Reviews, Stephen Bleach, the times, tripadvisor

Credits: The Times By: Stephen Bleach “The TripAdvisor system for exposing fake reviews on its website has serious flaws – can we expect genuine contributions anymore?” “This is further proof that TripAdvisor’s screening is poor,” said Chris Emmins, of the online reputation-management firm KwikChex. “Every day, the site is becoming more corrupted by false reviews.” […]

KwikChex presents its findings on TripAdvisor to the ASA

4th August 2011

Advertising Standards Authority, ASA, Caterersearch.com, Fake Reviews, Federal Trade Commission, fraudulent reviews, FTC, KwikChex, tripadvisor

Credits: Caterersearch.com By: Janet Harmer 03/08/2011 A report that is claimed to include tens of thousands of defamatory comments and misrepresentation on review site TripAdvisor has been presented to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA). Online reputation management firm KwikChex.com, which has also presented its findings to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in the USA, said […]

Can you still trust TripAdvisor?

21st July 2011

article, Fake Reviews, KwikChex, the times, Times, tripadvisor, TripAdvisor.com, trust

Credits: The Times By: Laura Whateley “As ‘thousands’ of fake hotel reviews prompt a warning to travellers, we examine the facts and urge holidaymakers to exercise caution when using TripAdvisor.com” “Corruption of information and abuses of the site are growing,” Mr Emmins (KwikChex Co-Founder) says. “We have studied TripAdvisor for eight months, evaluating almost every […]

Press Release On BBC Fake Reviews Report

22nd July 2010

BBC, BBC Click, Fake Reviews, KwikChex in the media

A campaign started by the online reassurance and reputation resource, KwikChex.com, has been the subject of a BBC TV report. The BBC’s flagship technology programme, ‘Click’ produced a special report which highlighted how reputable and blameless businesses are being attacked and defamed online on resources such as Google Maps Reviews. The programme featured one particular […]

KwikChex featured on BBC Click

18th July 2010

BBC, BBC Click, fake online feedback, fake review, Fake Reviews, KwikChex

17th July 2010 BBC Click – The BBC’s flagship technology programme What happens to a business when somebody deliberately fakes online feedback…

Google Removes Fake Review In Response To Latest Report From KwikChex

19th March 2010

fake google reviews, Fake Reviews, google map reviews, Google Reviews, remove bad reviews, remove google reviews

Background One of the worst examples yet of a fake and malicious review on Google Maps has been rapidly removed after KwikChex verified the facts. Storm Photography of Colchester in the UK had a malicious review posted on Google maps a month ago (16th Feb) and had not managed to have it deleted. At first […]

Remove Bad Reviews?

18th March 2010

Fake Bad Reviews, fake review, Fake Reviews, remove bad reviews

Put the above words into Google and it shows 107 million results. Bad online reviews are a serious issue – and it is certainly not only bad businesses that are being damaged.

‘Disgusting Hotels & Restaurants’

2nd March 2010

Authenticated Reviews, Disgusting Hotels, Fake Reviews, feedblack, Google Reviews, Hilton Hotels, Hotel Reviews, KwikChex, Lonon Hotel Reviews, Marriott Hotels, Restaurant Reviews, Trip Advisor

Type ‘Appalling Hotels London’ into a Google search and it shows 576,000 results. Repeat the exercise, replacing the word ‘hotel’ with ‘restaurant’ – 372.000 results.

You can repeat this exercise anywhere with similar results. New York will get 627,000 results for restaurants and 82,700 for hotels – in fact type in just ‘disgusting hotel’ and Google declares 1,700,000 results and 1,440,000 for ‘disgusting restaurants.’

This is a simple way to understand how many accusations and criticisms are being placed on the web – and often the business owners on the receiving end are not even aware of the damage being done – and are not deserving of the criticisms. In the results you will find many mentions of leading brands such as Hilton (49,900 ‘disgusting’ results), and Marriiott (45,800).

KwikChex.com has been conducting research to define the scale and significance of the problems of online reputation and bad and fake reviews.The scale is astonishing – thousands of websites and blogs are already online carrying millions of reviews. Most reviews are anonymous and are often almost completely unmoderated.

12th January 2010

anonymous online feedback, Fake Reviews, feedblack, Google, KwikChex, online information, Search Engine