CfTR Members, Tripadvisor and Amazon, Join Forces to Take Down Fake Review Sellers
Fake reviews hurt everyone, especially consumers who get misled and honest businesses that play by the rules. That’s why Amazon and Tripadvisor - two founding members of the Coalition for Trusted Reviews (CfTR) - have teamed up to file a groundbreaking lawsuit in Italy against companies accused of selling fake reviews online.
The case, which was filed in the Civil Court of Milan, targets two companies alleged to have run Comprarerecensioni.it, a website that sold positive reviews for products on Amazon and listings on Tripadvisor. Trust and safety teams from both companies found in coordinated investigations that the scammers offered incentives like refunds or free products in exchange for glowing 5/5 ratings.
This marks the first time these global brands and members of our Coalition have joined forces in court. For fake review brokers, it’s a clear message that selling or buying fake reviews isn’t just dishonest; it’s unlawful, and it won’t be tolerated. Just as important, this joint action shows how powerful partnerships between businesses can be in protecting consumers by sharing intelligence, coordinating enforcement, and working together to bring bad actors to justice.
Both Amazon and Tripadvisor have a strong track record of tackling review abuse in court. In 2018, Tripadvisor helped secure the first criminal conviction of a fake review broker in Italy. Amazon has also launched litigation to stop fake review brokers running large-scale review schemes, including taking down bad actors on social media that sold or coordinated fake posts.
Yet these investigations and court actions take significant time and resources. When companies act alone, they can usually only see the fraudster’s activity on their own platform, leaving other wrongdoing unnoticed and other sites exposed. By partnering in litigation, companies can build stronger cases and send an even more powerful message that review fraud will not go unchallenged.
This joint lawsuit is part of the Coalition for Trusted Reviews’ broader mission to protect consumers and restore confidence in online feedback. Through its Bad Actors, Legal, and Advocacy working groups, Coalition members develop industry best practices, advocate for smart public policies and press for stronger industry-wide accountability. By taking cases like this, the Coalition aims to deliver industry-level pressure that deters review fraud and reinforces one simple truth: consumer trust is worth defending.
To learn more about CfTR, reach out to the CoalitionforTrustedReviewsPAUK@dgagroup.com