New York AG Targets Fake Online Reviews

New York regulators are cracking down on fake reviews posted to sites like Google, Yelp, Citysearch, and Yahoo after noting a wave of false, purchased reviews for services such as dentistry, medical procedures and legal representation. New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said he considers it worse than false advertising. “When you look at a billboard,” he says, “You can tell it’s a paid advertisement. But on Yelp or Citysearch, you assume you’re reading authentic consumer opinions.”