How to Spot a Fake Online Review

Shopping online can be a tricky thing to navigate, which is why online reviews come in handy. The comment sections where people write their honest opinions of a product, restaurant or hotel are helpful resources for figuring out whether or not something is worth buying.

In 2012, 57% of restaurant-goers said they rely on online reviews before choosing where to dine. In addition, 90% of Yelp users said a positive review influences their choices

But here's the bad news: Not all of those reviews are reliable. Companies such as TripAdvisor, an aggregate site for making travel plans, have recently come under fire for allegedly failing to prevent fake reviews. For example, some hotels pay reviewers to post positive reviews without ever stepping foot in the establishment. They do it to boost business, but that comes at the cost of a surprised and angry customer who feels tricked by the Internet Read more...