involves paying people by vendors to pretend to be customers and write positive reviews. Such
reviews help vendors boost their standing on online marketplaces. Brushers are typically paid the
cost of the products they order plus a fee. Brushing fees are typically in the 5 RMB
—
10 RMB
range (US$0.8-US$1.60) per transaction
62
. The brushers use the money paid by the vendor to
place orders. Vendors ship boxes that are empty or filled with items of little value. The brushers
also write highly positive reviews of the vendors and their products
63
.
A vendor was reported saying that he saw fake orders as the only way for his products to
be seen
64
. Based on interviews with online vendors, logistics companies, and people faking
Internet traffic for e-commerce sellers,
Financial Times
estimated
that
in some category, fake
