Amazon is suing more than a thousand fake reviewers
Amazon is to sue more than 1,000 people it suspects have been posting fake reviews on its website.
The online retail behemoth began legal action in the US on Friday, claiming that its brand reputation was being tarnished by "false, misleading and inauthentic" reviews.
Its lawsuit targets 1114 defendants, dubbed 'John Does' because Amazon does not know their real names, who it said had been offering their false review writing services from around $5 (£3.25) on the website Fiverr.com.
Amazon has included the defendants' account pseudonyms in its complaint and is seeking a judgement to uncover their real identities.
Explaining the company's motivation, the legal action said: "Amazon is bringing this action to protect its customers from this misconduct, by stopping defendants and uprooting the ecosystem in which they participate.”
The latest action follows Amazon suing several websites suspected of selling fake reviews in April.