Quickly detect 'fake' Amazon and TripAdvisor reviews - blog discussion

MSE_Jenny

Read MSE Jenny's blog:

'Quickly detect 'fake' Amazon and TripAdvisor reviews with a nifty free tool'

summerof0763

MSE_Jenny wrote: »

Read MSE Jenny's blog:

'Quickly detect 'fake' Amazon and TripAdvisor reviews with a nifty free tool'

Looks like a handy tool to have especially as Christmas is coming so great thanks xxx

Pollycat

Link doesn't work for me.

happyinflorida

I've tried 3 times to get it to analyse Two Bulls Steakhouse in Eastbourne, East Sussex as I strongly believe the owner is creating fake reviews and each time it wouldn't come up with any answer?! Absolutely useless tool IMO.

Devonian_Rodders

Interesting Amazon & TripAdvisor are mentioned, but as mentioned by another contributor, TRUSTPILOT should be investigated too.
In recent advertising campaigns, TRUSTPILOT has featured in adverts for a well known "notorious* furnishing company, providing glowing reviews.
My experience with this company (previously listed on MSE) meant I had to send the furniture for recycling, since I was deemed too big for the furniture. Having bought the furniture in store, it should have been the salespersons responsibility to ensure the furniture was suitable. Too big meaning my weight was 15 stone !!
From frequent media reports, I have no doubt the company has NOT changed its ways, yet manages to get high markings from TRUSTPILOT.

torphi

Yes these are useful tools. Been using them for a while now. There are also Chrome extensions available for both. But the tools when used on Amazon, don't always agree with each other.

When Fakespot shows fake results, it's interesting to go in and read some of the really positive reviews, who posted them and their other reviews. The language used is usually OTT/gushing and the reviewer history looks suspect too.

It also is a good way to find out if the supplier is really reputable or not.

I would say that you should never buy anything on Amazon based purely on the reviews these days. Often you get these OTT gushing reviews mixed with poor reviews and not much in between. This is another sign that there are fake reviews and it's better to read the less good reviews to understand the product.

ultrak3wl

I was at a wedding and a large group of us stayed in a hotel near the venue. I wrote a tripadvisor review and so did three others and I knew that all four reviews were 100% real. Fakespot said they were all fake.

Stompa

Pollycat wrote: »

Link doesn't work for me.

Nor me, I just get a 404.

LadyDee

Pollycat wrote: »

Link doesn't work for me.

Nor me. Perhaps it's the browser? I use Opera.

Cornucopia

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/team-blog/2018/10/quickly-detect-fake-amazon-and-tripadvisor-reviews-with-a-nifty-/

I can't see what's wrong with the original link, but this one should work.

mac.d

The link doesn't work for me also using Opera.

There's a difference in the numbers that appear (what I presume is tracking code?) after the actual url in the link in the OP and the working link that Cornucopia has posted.

I've used it a couple of times on Amazon products because I thought the reviews were suspect, and it confirmed it. I've also checked a couple of things I'd bought and reviewed positively, including one item that doesn't have lots of reviews but all are 5* but I do think are genuine, and it seems pretty spot on with them too. A handy tool as long as you bear in mind what the MSE link states, ie that "this tool ISN'T definitive".

happyinflorida wrote: »

I've tried 3 times to get it to analyse Two Bulls Steakhouse in Eastbourne, East Sussex as I strongly believe the owner is creating fake reviews and each time it wouldn't come up with any answer?! Absolutely useless tool IMO.

That's a strange one, it just continually cycles through "this is new/this is something we haven't analysed yet please wait". I've used it for other trip advisor links, including new links its not analysed and they work ok. Maybe worth contacting their support about that one?