A notable example is from September 2018, an Italian judge sentenced a man to nine months in jail and nearly $10,000 in fines. So what was his crime? Publishing thousands of fake reviews for pay on Trip Advisor on behalf of his hotelier clients.

In the United States, under 15 U.S. Code § 45, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has the power to stop and penalize parties “using unfair or deceptive acts or practices in or affecting commerce.” This makes it a crime to break official rules imposed by the FTC. And the FTC forbids the use of fake testimonials.