Popular brands like Aukey allegedly involved in massive fake Amazon review scheme

By Andrew Myrick
last updated

Aukey 90w 3 Port 65w 2 Port Chargers
Aukey 90w 3 Port 65w 2 Port Chargers (Image credit: Ara Wagoner / Android Central)

What you need to know

  • SafetyDetectives revealed a data breach affecting more than 13 million users.
  • The breach affected many users who had been providing fake reviews for Amazon vendors and others.
  • Amazon has responded by removing products from brands that have been participating.

The war on fake Amazon product reviews is underway. A security report from SafetyDetectives (via Digital Trends) kicked things off by revealing that "more than 13 million records, equating to 7GB of data, were exposed" on a server. The report goes onto state that the majority of people's data revealed that fake reviews were being provided, including reviews for "Amazon vendors."

Despite this, it would appear that these two companies are also at the top of the list when it comes to this fake Amazon review scheme that has been uncovered. If you were to search for Mpow headphones or AUKEY chargers, you wouldn't really find too much. You could go to the Amazon seller pages, but many of the listings are either unavailable or removed completely.

Amazon Fake Review Data Breach

Source: SafetyDetectives (Image credit: Source: SafetyDetectives)

The way that these review schemes work is that a company representative will reach out for review, or a card will be included in the box of the product. After receiving the product, you are asked to post a review on Amazon with the implication of leaving a five-star review. Some ask for a five-star review explicitly, but others just imply it. In return, the company will provide compensation after the review has been published to Amazon.

This isn't exactly unheard of, as we've seen instances ourselves over the years. However, the data leak revealed that this is not just a blip on the radar. Amazon also has explicit rules against posting fake or paid-for reviews, but it seems that these companies discovered a massive workaround.

After publishing its piece about Amazon's fake review issues, ReviewGeek received a response from Amazon:

We work hard to build a great experience for our customers and sellers and take action to protect them from those that threaten their experience in our store. We have systems and processes to detect suspicious behavior and we have teams that investigate and take action quickly.We have long-standing policies to protect the integrity of our store, including product authenticity, genuine reviews, and products meeting the expectations of our customers. We take swift action against those that violate them, including suspending or removing selling privileges. We take this responsibility seriously, monitor our decision accuracy and maintain a high bar.

Amazon states that it has an appeals process available to companies if they believe they can agree to comply with store policies in the future.

Android Central has reached out to AUKEY about the matter but did not immediately receive a response.

Andrew Myrick
Andrew Myrick
Senior Editor - Chromebooks, tablets, and wearables

Andrew Myrick is a Senior Editor at Android Central. He enjoys everything to do with technology, including tablets, smartphones, and everything in between. Perhaps his favorite past-time is collecting different headphones, even if they all end up in the same drawer.

7 Comments
  • I've been offered additional products in exchange for submitting a review, but never literal money for a 5 star review.
  • I was offered a free case for my Galaxy Note 20 in exchange for posting a review. There was no pressure to make it 5 stars or anything, just to provide an honest review. I didn't see any issue with that.
  • Mpow gives you free stuff if you post 3 photos of the product and leave 5 stars. It's a shame because I use a handful of their products.
  • An Aukey wireless power bank I have been watching disappeared last night. Wouldn't even come up in search. Guess this is why.
  • I wonder how many junk products are still up on Amazon after these two companies were taken down. Hopefully they can get reinstated and follow the rules. If not I bet you can still find them on ebay.
  • I seem to get something similar with just about every electronics purchase. I bought a portable battery jumper for 2 of our cars a few months ago and both offered me something for free in return for a review. One of them was a $20 gift card which I have yet to receive....
  • I was promised a $15 gift card for a positive review. I purchased a $9 phone case where I found this card! I knew right then that's a scam. But I liked the case, reviewed it, sent the link for the review to the mentioned email address and waited. After three weeks of nothing I deleted my review. Never fall for this crap again! Amazon should ban those companies for life!