How are fake reviews against the law? And how do we know that they’re fake? She has the product, and tells her opinion of it. How do we judge if her opinion is fake? I know full well the circumstantial evidence argument, but from a legal point of view, I think you’d need more.
> Suppose you meet someone who tells you about a great new product. She tells you it performs wonderfully and offers fantastic new features that nobody else has. Would that recommendation factor into your decision to buy the product? Probably.
> Now suppose the person works for the company that sells the product – or has been paid by the company to tout the product. Would you want to know that when you’re evaluating the endorser’s glowing recommendation? You bet. That common-sense premise is at the heart of the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) Endorsement Guides.
The FTC thinks it's fraudulent[0]. She's paid to provide the review (always 5 stars, never anything explicitly negative), yet doesn't disclose the fact she was reimbursed for the purchase by the seller.
The intent of the scheme is to deceive other shoppers, regardless of the specific arrangement between her and the sellers.
