A company called Devumi knew that and sold fake followers to help people and organizations gain strong “followings.” The FTC has reached a settlement with Devumi for its illegal actions that deceived consumers.
So how did Devumi work? It operated several websites, including Devumi.com, TwitterBoost.co, Buyview.co, and Buyplays.co. People could go to these pages and buy fake followers, subscribers, views and likes for their social media accounts. That included accounts on Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Pinterest, Vine and SoundCloud.
So, as you’re shopping online, go beyond the number of followers and likes. Check out independent reviews of the product or service. Of course, those can be faked, too, so read a bunch of reviews to see what you can figure out. Also, search onllne for the name of the product or service, plus the word “complaint.” Looking for more tips about shopping online? Check out Comparing Products Online.