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Topics: AmeriFreight
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| Agency: Federal Trade Commission
Date: 20 April 2015 |
According to the FTC’s February 2015 complaint, AmeriFreight represented that its online reviews were those of satisfied customers, but failed to disclose that AmeriFreight compensated the reviewers with discounts and incentives. AmeriFreight gave consumers $50 discounts to write favorable reviews, and offered consumers the chance to win an additional $100 if their review was selected for a monthly prize.
The final order settling the FTC’s complaint prohibits AmeriFreight from misrepresenting that their products or services are highly rated or top-ranked based on unbiased consumer reviews, or that customer reviews are unbiased. It also requires the company to clearly and prominently disclose any material connection, if one exists, between the company and its endorsers.
The Commission vote approving the final order was 5-0. (FTC File No. 142-3249; the staff contact is Victor DeFrancis, Bureau of Consumer Protection, 202-326-3495)
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