Unsolicited Amazon Packages: A Deep Dive

Introduction

• Received two unsolicited packages:
  • Launch Rocket Catapult Launcher
  • Ring Strike Pro
• Addressed to the speaker, but they never ordered them.
• Assumed family ordered them but confirmed with them and checked order history.

Initial Investigation

• Checked listings on Amazon:
  • Launch Rocket Catapult Launcher:
    • 44 ratings, almost 5 stars, verified purchases.
  • Ring Strike Pro:
    • 4.9 stars, very high rating with positive reviews.
• Initially thought companies might be sending free samples for reviews or buying reviews.

Paid Reviews

• Discovered easy access to paid reviews:
  • Created a plan to pose as a seller to buy fake reviews but found Amazon's seller requirements stringent.
  • However, many services exist to buy reviews online.
• Example of contacting a review seller:
  • Could pay for verified reviews (cost of product + review fee).
  • Sellers can even remove negative reviews.

Review Manipulation and AI's Role

• Reviewed how AI can generate reviews quickly and abundantly.
• Examples of AI-generated reviews found on product listings.
• Amazon's actions against fake reviews:
  • Sued over 10,000 Facebook group admins involved in fake reviewing.
  • Introduced Amazon Vine program for verified reviews.
  • Developed an AI to detect unusual review patterns.

Tools to Detect Fake Reviews

• Fakespot:
  • Offers ratings on the authenticity of reviews but criticized for inaccuracies.
• ReviewMeta:
  • More advanced in analyzing reviews and identifying potentially fake ones.
• Both tools gave passing scores for the two products investigated.
• No fully reliable tools exist to ascertain genuine reviews.

Seller Tactics

• Bait and Switch:
  • Sellers can update listings to substitute products while retaining positive reviews.
  • Three major issues:
    1. Selling inferior products while maintaining a good rating.
    2. Selling products cheaply to gain reviews and then raising prices.
    3. Listing multiple products as variations to exploit reviews.

Brushing Scams

• Definition of brushing scams:
  • Sellers send unsolicited products to fake addresses or real addresses (via data leaks).
  • Creates verified buyer reviews without actual purchases.
• Importance of safeguarding personal data to avoid scams.

Conclusion and Recommendations

• Use tools like Surfshark Alert to monitor data breaches.
• Encourage good security practices in online shopping to protect against unwanted deliveries and scams.
• Final thoughts on the complex nature of Amazon reviews and the need for consumer vigilance.