Spotting Truth: How to Identify Fake Reviews on Indian E-commerce Sites
India’s online shopping boom has also fuelled a parallel market for paid, planted, and “review-bombed” feedback. The government has been tightening the conversation around review integrity, including pushing platforms towards BIS standard IS 19000:2022 for how reviews are collected, moderated, and published. An official update from PIB.
What Usually Gives A Fake Review Away
Start with patterns, not gut feelings. If a new listing jumps to hundreds of 5-star ratings overnight, or many reviews repeat the same quirky line, pause. “Verified purchase” helps, but it is not magic. Look for photos, video, and usable details (size, build, delivery condition) that are hard to copy at scale.
Open a few reviewer profiles: a trail of one-line praise across unrelated products, posted minutes apart, is a common paid-review footprint. Also watch for “perfect” grammar with zero specifics, or the opposite: oddly identical typos in multiple reviews.
The Burst Test
Sort by “most recent” and scan only the last 2–3 weeks. Fake campaigns often arrive in bursts, usually around mega-sales, and then go quiet. Read the 2-star to 4-star band because it tends to carry the most believable trade-offs. If you see complaints about returns, warranty denial, or missing accessories repeating across buyers, treat that as a signal.
Quick 30-Second Cross-Check
Before you pay, search the exact product name plus “return issue” or “complaint” on the open web, then compare. If outside reports don’t match the in-app praise, step back.
FAQs
Can I spot fake reviews without tools?
Check reviewer history, timing bursts, repeated phrasing, and missing real-use photos or details carefully today.
Are verified-purchase reviews always real?
Not always; some sellers still manipulate tags, so verify specifics and compare recent mid-star reviews.
Why do fake reviews look so positive?
Extremes are easiest to buy; mid-range reviews usually include balanced pros, cons, and context too.
What is one red flag that matters most?
Look for repeated complaints about returns, warranty, packaging, or missing parts across multiple buyers again.
What should I do before ordering expensive items?
Search product name plus complaint, and check videos or forums for consistent experiences and evidence.
