The Internet has changed our lifestyles in many ways, especially the ability to share and receive information. In the areas of travel and gastronomy, our decisions are heavily influenced by this network. Who doesn't know this: Before you book something, you read the reviews. But these are not always real. – Here are some strategies to spot and report counterfeits.
Finding a hotel, restaurant or service has never been so easy. You open Google Maps or, for example, TripAdvisor, enter what you are looking for, and you get a flood of results with associated reviews. But can you really trust them? Not necessarily, say experts. Because not all of these reviews come from real customers or guests. Sometimes these are fake reviews, either written by the owners themselves or purchased by third parties.
5 stars for 5 euros: How fake reviews are created
The causes of fake reviews are varied. Some are the result of incentives offered by owners – for example, a discount in return for a positive review. More brazen are “authentic” and “personal” reviews, which can be bought online for 5 to 12 euros.
The likelihood of encountering fake reviews increases with the density of tourists in a location. Why? Because more tourists also mean more potential customers and the pressure from competition is greater.
This is how you recognize the fakes
- Patterns of one-star and five-star reviews: You should be suspicious if the majority of reviews are either very good or very bad, with few in between. Furthermore, if there are striking similarities in the period in which reviews were submitted, this could be an indication of a fake.
- Non-Specific Information: Fake reviews tend to be vague and non-specific. Pay attention to general statements such as “unfriendly staff”, “bad food” or, conversely, “friendly service”, “tasty food”.
- Grammar and language use : Fake reviewers are often not native speakers and use translation aids that can lead to unfamiliar wording or grammatical errors.
Report suspicious content
If you suspect a review is fake, you can report it. Tap the profile picture of the person who left the review and see what else that person has reviewed. If this person reviews places around the world, they may be a paid reviewer. In such a case, you have the option of reporting the review directly in the app.
Machine Learning: Google's Answer to Fake Reviews
Google is aware of the problem of fake customer reviews. The company uses machine learning to scan millions of reviews every day and delete or verify fraudulent content. However, this system is not perfect and does not always detect all counterfeits.
Conclusion: Mediocre is worth its weight in gold
If you want to base your decisions on online reviews, you are well advised to read the mediocre reviews more closely. These often contain the most honest and detailed experiences. They can provide valuable insights into reality.
Ultimately, however, it is also a mixture of common sense, vigilance and a pinch of skepticism that helps us find the real pearls among the offers.
Source:
futurezone.at
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