How to spot fake or misleading Amazon reviews

Star ratings drive most Amazon purchases, and they are easy to game. Here is how to read past them.

Check that the reviews are about this product

Sellers sometimes merge a new product into an old listing so it inherits years of reviews. Read a handful. If people describe a different color, size or even a different item than the one you are looking at, the rating is borrowed.

Sort by newest

Products change. A 4.6 average built over three years can hide a recent drop in quality. Sort by most recent and read the last 20 or so.

Read the three-star reviews

Five-star reviews are often short and vague, and one-star reviews are often about shipping. Three-star reviews tend to describe real strengths and weaknesses.

Watch for patterns

• Many reviews posted within a few days of each other.
• Similar wording across different reviewers.
• Reviews that mention getting the product free or for a discount in exchange for a review.
• Photos that look like stock images.

Be extra careful with storage and cables

Memory cards, flash drives and charging cables are common counterfeit targets. Buy from the brand's store or from Amazon directly, and test storage devices with a capacity checker when they arrive.

Brand matters more than stars

A known brand with a 4.3 is usually a safer bet than an unknown brand with a 4.8. That is part of how we choose what to post. See storage deals and charging cable deals.