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Article: Whose 5 stars? Online `user' reviews get scrutiny
- Article from:
- AP Online
- Article date:
- July 29, 2009
CopyrightCopyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. (Hide copyright information)
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The Web site said an herbal remedy could cure cancer and offered miraculous firsthand accounts. One woman offered to "share my experience": The formula had routed her lymphoma, sparing her radiation treatment, she said.
What she didn't mention is that she also owned the company selling the product she praised online, authorities said.
A growing number of regulators, trade groups and site owners are cracking down on so-called "AstroTurf" marketing _ seeding the Internet with seemingly grass-roots testimonials, reviews and comments that aren't as organic as they seem.
The Federal Trade Commission told Bacon in a settlement last fall to tone down her claims and change her promotional tactics. And ...