Amazon.com is investigating suspected internal leaks of confidential information by its employees for bribes to remove fake reviews and other seller scams from its e-commerce website, the Wall Street Journal reported.
The report said Amazon employees are offering internal data and other classified information through intermediaries, to independent merchants selling their products on the site to help them boost sales in return for payments.
The practice, which is a violation of the company’s policy, is particularly strong in China, the report added, as the number of sellers is soaring there.
Brokers for Amazon employees in Shenzhen are offering internal sales metrics and reviewers’ email addresses, as well as a service to delete negative reviews and restore banned Amazon accounts in exchange for payments ranging from about $80 to more than $2,000.
The e-commerce giant is also investigating a number of cases involving employees, including some in the U.S., suspected of accepting these bribes.
