Cure Encapsulations resolved the FTC’s first case directly challenging fake paid reviews on an independent retail website. The FTC alleged that the company paid a third party to create five-star Amazon reviews and made unsupported weight-loss claims.
- Cure Encapsulations resolved the FTC’s first case directly challenging fake paid reviews on an independent retail website. The FTC alleged that the company paid a third party to create five-star Amazon reviews and made unsupported weight-loss claims.
- The FTC filed its first case challenging fake paid reviews on an independent retail website against Cure Encapsulations and its owner in 2019. The agency alleged that the company paid a third-party service to create five-star Amazon reviews and represented them as truthful statements from actual purchasers.
- The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York entered the stipulated order in June 2019.
- A detailed audit of Cure Encapsulations, Amazon review purchasing, the $12.8 million suspended judgment, the $50,000 payment term, product-claim substantiation, and marketplace seller controls.
01
Identified claim
Cure Encapsulations resolved the FTC’s first case directly challenging fake paid reviews on an independent retail website. The FTC alleged that the company paid a third party to create five-star Amazon reviews and made unsupported weight-loss claims.
Cure Encapsulations should not be treated as a trusted historical source of Amazon review evidence or weight-loss claims.
The FTC filed its first case challenging fake paid reviews on an independent retail website against Cure Encapsulations and its owner in 2019. The agency alleged that the company paid a third-party service to create five-star Amazon reviews and represented them as truthful statements from actual purchasers.
The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York entered the stipulated order in June 2019.
02
Sources and evidence
Sources reviewed.
- Cure Encapsulations case — Federal Trade Commission; accessed 2026-08-05. [1]
- FTC fake paid Amazon review announcement — Federal Trade Commission; accessed 2026-08-05. [2]
- FTC consumer guidance — Federal Trade Commission; accessed 2026-08-05. [3]
Fast facts.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Platform involved | Amazon |
| Review supplier named | amazonverifiedreviews.com |
| Order entered | June 4, 2019 |
| Judgment | $12.8 million |
| Suspension condition described by FTC | $50,000 plus specified tax obligations |
| Landmark | FTC’s first fake paid review case on an independent retail site |
The alleged review purchase.
The FTC said Cure Encapsulations paid a third-party service to write and post reviews. The complaint cited a request that the product maintain a rating high enough to support sales and remain at five stars.
The reviews appeared to come from actual customers. Outsourcing fabrication does not make the resulting endorsement independent.
Why Amazon reviews matter.
Marketplace reviews can influence product discovery, advertising conversion, click-through rate, returns, recommendation systems, and off-platform branded search.
An honest seller competes at a disadvantage when another product buys the appearance of customer consensus.
The health claims.
The FTC also challenged claims that the supplement suppressed appetite, blocked fat formation, caused substantial weight loss, or treated health conditions.
The order requires appropriate scientific evidence for covered claims. Fake reviews become especially dangerous when they repeat unsupported health outcomes.
The monetary order.
The order imposed a $12.8 million judgment. The FTC said the judgment would be suspended after a $50,000 payment and specified unpaid tax obligations.
Do not report the face amount as though $12.8 million was collected. Judgment, payment, and redress are separate figures.
Notice to Amazon and customers.
The order required notice to Amazon identifying purchased reviews and notice to customers about the allegations.
That remedy addresses the information environment itself. Removing or identifying fabricated reviews matters because they can continue influencing shoppers after the litigation ends.
How to audit a review agency.
Ask how reviewers are recruited, whether purchases are verified, whether compensation depends on sentiment, how accounts are created, which devices and locations are used, who owns the content, and how every supplied review can be identified and removed.
Red flags include guaranteed five-star reviews, paid verified-buyer badges, reimbursement after a positive review, account warming, review swaps, and location-specific fake accounts.
Buyer checklist.
- Never buy reviews
- Never require a positive rating
- Disclose free products and incentives
- Audit review agencies and launch services
- Ban fake account creation
- Keep health substantiation separate
- Remove identified fabricated reviews
- Notify platforms when required
- Preserve reviewer source evidence
- Monitor review velocity and device patterns
03
Conclusion
FAQs.
Was the $12.8 million judgment fully paid?
The FTC said it would be suspended after a $50,000 payment and specified tax obligations.
Did Amazon write the reviews?
No. The FTC alleged that a third-party review service created and posted them.
Can a seller give free products for reviews?
Platform rules vary. Material connections should be disclosed and positive sentiment should not be required.
Was this the FTC’s first fake review case?
The FTC described it as its first case challenging fake paid reviews on an independent retail website.
Does a five-star review prove a health claim?
No. Health claims require appropriate scientific evidence.
Final verdict.
Cure Encapsulations is an avoid based on the entered FTC order and the specific review-purchase allegations it resolved. The case shows that fake review vendors create advertising, platform, consumer-protection, and evidence problems at once.
Conclusion in brief.
Cure Encapsulations resolved the FTC’s first case directly challenging fake paid reviews on an independent retail website. The FTC alleged that the company paid a third party to create five-star Amazon reviews and made unsupported weight-loss claims.
04
Limitations
Evidence limits.
The article does not make independent medical findings or claim that every product ever associated with the defendants was deceptive.
This audit was completed on 2026-08-06. Primary official records were preferred. Allegations, complaints, settlements, entered orders, final orders, judgments, and later reversals are labeled separately. The record does not establish that every current product, service, review, listing, or outcome is the same as the conduct described. Recheck current status before making a purchase or publication decision.
Verification record.
The case page, entered order date, and FTC announcement were checked on 2026-08-05. The judgment face value is distinguished from the payment condition.
Duplication and search-intent record.
No prior available RankBuilder package audited Cure Encapsulations. The intent covers fake Amazon reviews, review vendors, FTC settlement, and supplement claims.
References
Sources behind this record
- Cure Encapsulations case — Federal Trade Commission (accessed August 5, 2026)
- FTC fake paid Amazon review announcement — Federal Trade Commission (accessed August 5, 2026)
- FTC consumer guidance — Federal Trade Commission (accessed August 5, 2026)
Corrections
Correction history
No corrections recorded.
To report an error, use the public corrections path.
Audit completed on 2026-08-06 using primary official records.
Allegations, complaints, settlements, entered orders, final orders, judgments, and later reversals are distinguished.
The record does not establish that every current product, service, review, listing, or outcome is unchanged.
Recheck current corporate and legal status before making a purchase or publication decision.