The Ecomcrew Ecommerce Podcast E616: I bought Fake Amazon Reviews. Here's How They Work.
Sep 22, 2025
Dave explores the shady world of fake Amazon reviews by purchasing one himself. He delves into how review brokerages operate, their pricing, and the surprising processes involved. Through his firsthand experience, he uncovers interactions with brokers and the red flags in reviewer profiles. The discussion highlights the massive scale of fake reviews and how Amazon is attempting to combat this issue. With ethical considerations at the forefront, Dave urges sellers and consumers to steer clear of buying faux reviews.
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Undercover Purchase Of A Fake Review
- Dave tested fake-review brokerages by buying a single review on someone else's top-selling ASIN to avoid risking his own accounts.
- He paid ~$5 plus the product cost and coordinated via Facebook Messenger then WeChat before sending Bitcoin.
How Review Brokerages Price And Operate
- Review brokerages typically charge $5–$10 per review plus product reimbursement and maintain networks who buy and leave reviews.
- Brokers prefer bulk orders (5–100+ reviews) and have SOPs to avoid triggering Amazon detection.
From Facebook Spam To WeChat And Bitcoin
- Dave contacted a spammer from his FBA Facebook group, requested a single test review, and was pushed from Messenger to WeChat.
- He used Bitcoin to pay the broker and expected it to be a likely scam but still received follow-ups and confirmation.