By hannover-web.com The trend of seeking online reviews and guides has become a common habit among consumers. However, some organizations disrupt this process by engaging in malicious activities like fake reviews and inflated ratings. These entities are often referred to as “internet water armies.”
Recently, the police in Shanghai dismantled a crime syndicate involved in hiring online writers to produce and release misleading posts. The operation led to the arrest of 11 suspects, with the total monetary value of the fraud exceeding 2 million yuan.
**Assessing Reviews: Good or Bad?**
Is it all about paying for favorable opinions?
In March of this year, the police in Jinshan, Shanghai discovered a surge of posts on various online platforms praising a particular real estate agency. These posts assured users about the safety of transactions and highlighted the excellent employee benefits of the company. While these testimonials appeared to be genuine user experiences, investigators noted that the content followed a predictable formula.
Upon investigation, officers found that the accounts posting these comments were scattered across the country, each portraying a specific persona.
“One account might represent a homemaker, while another could be a young job seeker in Shanghai. There are also accounts that appear to be current employees extolling the company’s virtues,” said Lu Chengjie, a cybersecurity officer with the Jinshan branch of the Shanghai Public Security Bureau.
Further probing revealed that these accounts were actually employed by a cultural company based in Shanghai. After receiving tasks, the account holders would create batches of fake positive posts.
The vice-captain of the Jinshan cybersecurity team, Jiang An, explained, “The organization pretended to conduct online reputation management for brands, but in fact, they were simply managing negative feedback behind the scenes.”
**So-called Brand “Optimization” is Just Manipulation**
Investigations showed that the cultural company controlled by a person named Zhang comprised seven employees organized into operations, outreach, and technical teams. Zhang and his associates primarily worked to attract clients. When clients discovered negative information about themselves online, they would mobilize writers like Huang to craft misleading testimonials, which were then bulk-posted across platforms such as Xiaohongshu, Baidu, and WeChat, effectively drowning out any real negative feedback.
“A typical influencer will share authentic reviews after trying a product or service. However, these individuals never received any product or service—they simply fabricated their experiences,” Jiang stated.
Investigators explained that the accounts that seemed legitimate were tools specifically created for posting. This elaborate scheme managed to manipulate the platform’s posting mechanisms to obscure genuine complaints. By flooding the platforms with false messages, these “internet water armies” diluted the negative comments, artificially inflating ratings and public perception.
“Their actions disrupted the online environment, making it nearly impossible for consumers to access true information about products, leaving them misled by fake posts,” Jiang added.
In May, the Shanghai police launched a coordinated crackdown across Shanghai and several other provinces, culminating in the arrest of 11 individuals associated with this web of deceit. Law enforcement seized 30 phones, 11 computers, and various contracts, bringing the total involved in the fraud to over 2 million yuan.
As of now, Zhang and the other suspects face criminal charges for illegal operations while the investigation continues.
**Police Warning: Stay Vigilant Against Online Shopping Scams!**
With a rise in online shopping promotions, criminals are seizing opportunities to execute fraud schemes. The Ministry of Public Security recently released information about five common styles of online shopping scams.
1. **Internal Discount Scams**: Scammers lure consumers into clicking dubious links or joining groups under the guise of distributing coupons or discounts. Providing personal information can lead to fraud.
2. **Transaction Disruption Scams**: Criminals create fake platforms under the pretense of refund issues to illegally obtain consumers’ personal information, banking details, and even funds.
3. **Imposter Customer Service Scams**: Using stolen consumer data, fraudsters impersonate customer service representatives from known platforms, misleading consumers to share sensitive information with excuses like mandatory refund processes.
4. **Sweepstakes and Front-Job Scams**: Fake prize cards in packages may entice consumers to participate in so-called “work-from-home” groups, which eventually lead to them investing significant sums under false pretenses.
5. **Refund and Compensation Scams**: Scammers reach out to consumers claiming eligibility for refunds due to quality or inventory issues. Through manipulative dialogue, they coax consumers into revealing detailed financial information.
**Authorities advise**:
– Never share account details, identity info, or verification codes with strangers.
– Always conduct transactions on official, secure platforms.
– Avoid clicking unfamiliar links, scanning unknown QR codes, or joining suspicious chat groups.
– Be wary of any claims regarding cashback for posting reviews, as these are often scams.
