Fake Reviews Are Fastest Growing Black Market in US, Says Federal Trade Commission

A black market industry of brokering fake reviews is at epidemic levels in the United States with one watchdog group estimating at least 40 percent of testimonials posted on such media platforms as Facebook are phony.

Kay Dean, a former federal criminal investigator, wants Facebook and other online platforms held accountable for the escalating fake review black market. Courtesy of Fake Review Watch

Fake reviews, for everything from doctors to pool contractors, are one of the fast-growing black markets in the United States with anti-disinformation giants like Facebook being accused of hypocrisy when it comes to fixing the problem.

Fueling the controversy are allegations of similar double standards against the very government agency charged with enforcing laws against the illegal practice.