Huawei Accused Of Encouraging Users To Post Fake Reviews To Best Buy's Website
Huawei has found it difficult to make inroads in the U.S. smartphone market. Some of the company's troubles have to do with the U.S. government fearing that Huawei, a company with close ties to the Chinese government, might use those devices to spy on Americans. That fear has led to government pressure that has stopped both AT&T and Verizon from selling Huawei phones directly to consumers.
Huawei opted to sell its devices directly to customers via retailers like Best Buy and others. Reports now indicate that Huawei is soliciting fake reviews via a private Facebook group to get fans to post reviews of a device yet to launch on Best Buy's website. The catch is the device is only up for pre-order, leaving the dubious among smartphone fans wondering how reviewers could have used the device and given it such glowing praise.
An image showing Huawei's private Facebook group where it solicited the fake reviews on Best Buy by promising that nine of the best posters would be chosen to be a beta tester for an unspecified device is seen above. Most of the Best Buy reviews are said to have popped up after that contest started. One of the Best Buy reviews states, "This phone is best! I have
At least one of the "reviews" was honest enough to note that Huawei had solicited the content for a chance to be a beta tester, you can see a screenshot of that review below.
This practice is against Best Buy policy and should be a red flag for any consumer. If a company must solicit fake reviews to spur sales of its device, that doesn't bode well for the device. Beware any review of a device on a retail site when that device hasn’t launched.
