Posts Tagged
‘Online Reviews’

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 […]

KwikChex participates in Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) radio programme “Burned by Online Reviews”. KwikChex mentioned on CBC website – https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcasts/ontario/ontario-today/ Link to podcast for CBC radio programme “Burned by Online Reviews” – https://podcast.cbc.ca/mp3/podcasts/ontariotoday_20150911_81823.mp3. KwikChex on between 25.54 and 34.44.

KwikChex were featured on the 6 O’Clock BBC News after our investigations team worked with BBC reporters to uncover review fraud involving a Payday Loan company that had fake reviews posted on Trustpilot. The reviews used stolen identities – including one of a deceased young mother. KwikChex is now in the process of launching a […]

BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast Show Fake online customer reviews – includes interview with Chris Emmins, KwikChex. Above excerpts and read the full article on – www.bbc.co.uk From 1hr 56m Other BBC stories featuring KwikChex – Click here

BBC coverage of release of a report by the UK Competition & Markets Authority on Online Reviews. KwikChex were one of the key participants in the CMA investigation. KwikChex is now in the process of launching a comprehensive, verifiable resource to solve the problems caused to consumers and businesses by fake reviews. The resource is […]

KwikChex were featured on the 6 O’Clock BBC News after our investigations team worked with BBC reporters to uncover review fraud involving a Payday Loan company that had fake reviews posted on Trustpilot. The reviews used stolen identities – including one of a deceased young mother. KwikChex is now in the process of launching a […]

KwikChex recently attended a meeting with the UK Competition & Markets Authority (CMA) in London in response to a request to assist the CMA’s fact-finding initiative concerning online reviews. The meeting and subsequent follow-up covered a wide spectrum, including identifying businesses that use fake good reviews to deceive consumers and the impact of fake bad […]

Credits: The Independent By: Chris Green Chris Emmins, co-founder of the online reputation management firm KwikChex, said customers who received legal letters should try not to panic. “For consumers that have genuine cause for complaint, they should not be intimidated by such threats,” he said. Above excerpts and read the full article on www.independent.co.uk

Credits: The Globe and Mail By Susan Krashinsky – Marketing Reporter Canada’s Competition Bureau is looking into the issue of “astroturfing” – fake online reviews written to look like they come from regular consumers, but that are actually written by someone affiliated with the product or service being reviewed. Above excerpts and read the full […]

Credits: CBS Baltimore / The Daily Record By: Lauren Kirkwood Widespread collection of personal data online frequently prompts debate about privacy, but there is one group of people that has largely managed to remain behind a wall of anonymity, says Danielle Citron: perpetrators of online threats and harassment. Above excerpts and read the full article […]

Credits: Uproxx Web Culture By: Andy Issac Most of our coverage of online reviews has a very serious element – businesses being destroyed by bad fake reviews, rogue businesses planting fake good reviews etc. But this one is in a somewhat lighter note – the story of a ‘reviewer’ that has an unique way of […]

Credits: Digital Pulse PWC By: Patrick Stafford It’s hard to deny the power of online reviews isn’t continuing to grow – judging by the backlash of businesses which feel they have suffered at the hands of fraudulent reviews. Above excerpts and read the full article on www.digitalpulse.pwc.com.au

Credits: The Age By: Ben Grubb The consumer watchdog is taking legal action in the Federal Court against an Australian cleaning company it says was involved in posting fake testimonials about its business on the internet. Above excerpts and read the full article on www.theage.com.au

The announcement that the Italian Competition Authority are investigating TripAdvisor over fake reviews is the latest in a growing number of legal initiatives that seek to ensure fair play and accuracy in information being provided to consumers. Authorities around the world are recognising that website businesses carrying reviews and complaints are hugely influential when it […]

Credits: Tnooz By: Karthick Prabu Daodao, the local imprint of TripAdvisor in China, is the subject of an investigation after a damning report into the validity of its reviews. The report by KwikChex, the UK-based online reputation management company which has been a ongoing thorn in the side of the user review service for years, […]

Credits: The Telegraph By: Jolyon Attwooll New research has highlighted thousands of suspect reviews on the Chinese domain of TripAdvisor The authenticity of TripAdvisor reviews is under the spotlight again after new research revealed thousands of suspect postings on the Chinese version of the website. The study, carried out by Kwikchex, an “online reputation management” […]

Credits: Herald Sun Business By: John Rolfe State fair trading authorities and ACCC investigating bogus reviews on internet AT least 10 businesses have been sprung posting bogus reviews on the internet to dupe would-be customers. Those suspected of feathering their own online nest include a major funeral company, a high-end restaurant and a building company […]

Credits: Mail Online By: Victoria Woollaston * More than a fifth of Americans have reviewed a product they’ve never used * This rises to almost a third of parents with children under 18 * The majority (32%) claimed they did so simply because ‘they felt like it’ * While 22% admitted they just didn’t like […]

Credits: Hospitality Magazine By: Brea Carter In a bid to tackle issues surrounding fake online reviews, The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has released a best practice guide for businesses and review platforms such as UrbanSpoon. Online reviews: a guide for business and review platforms touches on everything from guiding principles for posting reviews […]

Credits: CNN Money By: Jennifer Alseve It’s not uncommon to receive a few negative reviews, but what’s the best way to handle it? Here’s what you don’t want to do: Call online reviewers punks, trash or other expletives on your company Facebook page like the owners of Amy’s Baking Company did last spring. Their outrageous […]

Credits: Trib Live By: The Los Angeles Times ‘Consumers often turn to the Internet to research a product before buying. Fake reviews are always a concern, and the problem may be bigger than previously thought. There have long been reports and rumors of businesses posting negative reviews of their competitors’ products or companies that pay […]

Credits: CNBC By: Heesun Wee ‘Gaming positive reviews online is getting harder. The website Yelp which connects local businesses with user-contributed reviews on everything from restaurants to local dentists — recently launched a new “Consumer Alert” system that clamps down on fraudulent reviews.’ ‘But with business risk comes opportunity. Gartner forecasts the emergence of companies […]

Credits: The Australian By Kate Schneider ‘Yelp putting on detective hat in bid to find fake reviews is placing a warning sign on the listings of those caught. Claims to have already busted nine companies TIRED of companies trying to trick travellers with fake reviews, Yelp is now publicly shaming those it claims are involved […]

Credits: Ad Age By: Michael Learmonth ‘Online reviews can make or break a local business, which is why the incentive to cheat with paid-for, malicious or fraudulent reviews is so great. Weeding out fraud is an inexact science; sites such as TripAdvisor, Google+ Local and Yelp use a mix of algorithms and human moderators to […]

Credits: Technology Spectator By: David Glance ‘LANCASHIRE businesses are losing out on new sales due to fake or unjust reviews, according to a top marketing consultant. Internet review experts Got Juice say the problem affecting Lancashire could be tackled if reviews were required to be authenticated.’ Above excerpts and read the full story on Lancashire […]

Credits: Technology Spectator By: David Glance ‘The American social scientist Donald Campbell observed that as soon as you try to apply and use indicators for social decision-making, the pressure to corrupt the measure increases and it then distorts the process it is measuring. The measure eventually becomes meaningless because it loses its value as a […]

Credits: The Guardian By: Roy Greenslade ‘Canny consumers do not take adverts at face value. According to a research study, once they come across an ad they go online to check out reviews of the advertised product or service – but do they get the correct and fair information?’ ‘KwikChex says: “If consumers see negative opinion results, […]

Credits: Eat Out Magazine “Online reviews have been in the headlines recently for all the wrong reasons. Allegations of sabotage and fake postings are rife leading the Advertising Standards Authority to launch an investigation into reviews of hotels and restaurants. Chris Emmins co-founder of KwikChex, tells us about the rise, reviews and risks of online […]

Almost everyone would acknowledge that the worldwide web is saturated with fraud and deceit. Online defamation is soaring and both consumers and reputable businesses suffer. KwikChex believes that significant improvements to reliability of information are readily achievable and obviously desirable. We are inviting a wide range of businesses, including some of the most influential such […]

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 […]

Online, peer-to-peer review sites like TripAdvisor hold immense sway over the reputations of hotels and resorts. But with many in the industry complaining of malicious or fraudulent reviews, Chris Lo asks if these sites are doing enough to protect hotels and travellers from misleading or defamatory material. Excerpt (from hotelmanagement-network.com) The problem with TripAdvisor With […]

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