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Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore
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Know More About Dark Patterns

Learn what dark patterns are and how to spot them.

Last updated 7 July 2025

Fake Reviews

Consumers today frequently rely on reviews as a quick and convenient way to learn about a product to make informed purchasing decisions.

Businesses recognise this and may take advantage of consumer behaviour. They may manipulate user reviews or present them in a certain way to influence consumers in their perception of their product, e.g. by posing as customers to give 5-star reviews about their own products, or deleting negative reviews put up by genuine customers about their products or services.

There are safeguards that may be put in place by e-commerce platforms to ensure the reliability of the reviews published, e.g. ensuring only those who purchased the product can leave a review.

buying furniture with many 5-star reviews

Learn more about our enforcement actions taken against businesses who posted fake reviews:

More examples to come