paid reviews
Purchased product endorsements
Paid reviews are evaluations of products, services, or businesses where the reviewer receives compensation—money, free products, or other incentives.
The term usually carries negative connotations, implying bias or deception: The company's five-star ratings turned out to be paid reviews.
Legitimate sponsored content typically requires disclosure, but undisclosed paid reviews violate consumer trust and often platform policies.
The practice ranges from influencer marketing arrangements to organized review fraud operations.
- sponsoredFinancially supported an endeavor
- brand dealPaid promotional partnership
- influencer marketingPromotion through social personalities
- fakeNot the real thing
- fake testimonialsFraudulent endorsements posing as real
endorsement · influencer · native advertising · astroturfing · biased · conflict of interest · compensation · under the table · disclosure · ratings · testimonials · shilling · bought · promoted · pay to play · affiliate · deceptive · stars
- marketingadvertising, digital marketing, ad campaign, advertisements, ads
- stealth advertisingnative advertising, sponsored content, branded content, advertorials, hidden ads