In August 2024 the US Federal Trade Commission announced a final rule banning fake reviews and testimonials. This guide summarises the FTC's press release and does not give legal advice.

This guide is based on the public sources listed at the end. We have not tested the products or services mentioned.

This is a short reference page. The full guide is Safe Online Shopping: Scams, Fake Reviews, Fake Goods and the Checks That Work.

What the rule bans

  • Creating or selling reviews or testimonials from people who do not exist (including AI-generated) or who never used the business, and buying them or spreading them when the business knew or should have known they were fake.
  • Offering pay or perks tied to positive or negative sentiment.
  • Insider reviews without a clear disclosure of the connection, with limits on managers asking employees or relatives to write them.
  • Presenting a company-controlled site as independent when it reviews a category that includes its own products.
  • Review suppression by baseless legal or physical threats, intimidation or false public accusations, and claiming displayed reviews are all or most when negative ones were hidden.
  • Buying or selling bot-generated or hijacked social media followers or views to misrepresent influence.

The FTC can seek civil penalties against knowing violators. The press release does not state the effective date; it says the rule takes effect 60 days after publication in the Federal Register. The Federal Register lists the final rule as published on 22 August 2024, which puts the effective date at 21 October 2024 by that arithmetic. Check the Federal Register text if you need the exact date.

What shoppers can do

If a listing's reviews all look alike, or a review site is run by the seller, treat it with caution. Report suspected fake reviews at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

A note on affiliate sites

Affiliate review sites fall under endorsement and disclosure rules too. That is why we label links as ads and say we have not tested what we mention. See how affiliate links work and how to spot fake reviews.

Last checked: 15 October 2026. Sources: US FTC, final rule banning fake reviews and testimonials (press release, August 2024).