Beware five-star reviews: the scam write-ups that seek to trap online shoppers

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 3 min read 100% complete by Rupert JonesDecember 14, 2025 at 08:00 AM
Beware five-star reviews: the scam write-ups that seek to trap online shoppers

AI Summary

medium article 3 min

Online shoppers are being warned about the proliferation of fake five-star reviews, a scam that has persisted despite being banned in the UK in April. National Trading Standards (NTS) reports that criminals are using paid individuals, bots, and AI to generate these fraudulent reviews on a large scale, sometimes creating entire fake review websites. These reviews often promote high-demand products like air fryers and vacuum cleaners, leading consumers to purchase low-quality, counterfeit, or non-existent items. Studies estimate that 11% to 30% of online reviews are fake, with AI-generated reviews becoming increasingly difficult to detect. Experts advise consumers to be wary of overly enthusiastic reviews lacking specific details or using phrases from product descriptions.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Keywords

fake reviews 100% online shopping 70% fraudulent reviews 60% consumer protection 60% online scams 50% artificial intelligence 50% national trading standards 40% e-commerce 40%

Sentiment Analysis

Very Negative
Score: -0.60

Source Transparency

Source
The Guardian - World News
Political Lean
Center-Left (-0.40)
Far LeftCenterFar Right
Classification Confidence
90%
Geographic Perspective
UK

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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