fraud pennsylvania advertisements competition
What to do about Fake Positive Reviews
<p>There is a company that I have run into that had a sudden review surge. In each of these 20+ reviews, they, as in individual accounts, review a combination of the  same places having reviewed by an advertising company who has reviewed all of these businesses as well. It appears that companies around the area are hiring this advertising company who then creates many reviews, even some local government services appear to be using this advertising companies service.</p>

<p>Is there anything illegal about this kind of practice?   </p>

<p>Who would be the point of contact to mediate this?   </p>

<p>Is this fraud if they haven't received the services? </p>

<p>This doesn't sound like fraud (against you, at least), but it does sound like an unfair or deceptive trade practice, which is outlawed by <a href="https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/45" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act</a> and perhaps the <a href="https://codes.findlaw.com/pa/title-73-ps-trade-and-commerce/pa-st-sect-73-201-2.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Pennsylvania Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law</a>, both of which prohibit unfair and deceptive trade practices.</p>

<p>I don't know about Pennsylvania, but the FTC has on many occasions taken action against companies for engaging in just this kind of behavior.</p>

<p>To find out whether you would be able to take action against the other company, you'd want to find a good competition lawyer in Pennsylvania. For some more basic background on the FTC's rules, check out this <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/business-center/guidance/ftcs-endorsement-guides-what-people-are-asking" rel="nofollow noreferrer">primer</a>.</p>
