Monday, June 25, 2018

Exercise: Amazon Deceptive Reviews


Analysts and hobbyists are always looking for examples from which to improve their skills. Although most people who enroll in training do so with some future considerations of professional use, others do so to further their own personal growth and...

everyone hates being lied to.

We've examined Amazon reviews previously as an exercise in lie detection and we have noted:

1. Shill Reviewing
2. Paid Reviewing

The Paid Reviewing is where Amazon sellers gave away free products in exchange for positive reviews.  When a less than positive review was posted, the seller wrote to the reviewer.  Several of these were posted including one consistent:

"I am a single mother of two children and I will lose my job if you post a negative review.  What can I do to make you change your mind?" as a general theme. Most of these are in "google-translate" English. 

The Shill Reviewer is the company reviewing its own product, posting as customers. 

Here is a very inexpensive home blood pressure monitor.  At the time of this posting, it has 100 reviews:

all 5 Star.

What do you find when you review the reviewers?

Post your findings in the comments section. 

Link:  100 Five Star Reviews! 

You are seeking to answer a general and necessary question:

Is this a good product for purchase? 

With this particular product, your finding may be critical to a customer's health. 

Deception presupposes contempt. The liar believes you and I to be incapable of discernment. 

What can you tell the public about your findings?




54 comments:

Hey Jude said...

Upon reviewing the reviewers, I find many make five star recommendations on the same products.

CQuinn said...

The reviewers all give 5 star reviews for all of their reviews on other products. The products they review are all similar to the products other reviewers are reviewing (iphone screen protectors, headphones, etc.).

Unknown said...

All are generally the same length with the same sentence structure and style. Many have a great deal of unnecessary information and explanation of the reviewer's actions.

Hey Jude said...

Also, all the reviews have been made between 19-23 June - so all 'customers' have received and 'evaluated' the product within a short space of time.. Some reviewers are less happy to claim accuracy for the product than others, writing that it 'seems' accurate or the 'readings seem to agree' with a monitor they 'have at home' rather than that it is. It is a bold claim to make for accuracy unless they all are doctors or nurses with access to reliable monitors against which to compare it. Potential customers should be aware that those who claim to have compared the product for accuracy with their doctors' equipment, and to have recommendations and validations for it from their doctor or nurse, are either writing paid reviews, for which continued payment a five star rating is required, or companies advertising their own products.

Hey Jude said...

As some are reluctant to claim accuracy whilst still giving five stars, they are more likely paid reviewers - companies promoting their own products don't put doubts into the potential customer's mind.

Hey Jude said...

I wondered if the reviewer who compared the product to one he/she has 'at home' was elsewhere, and not in receipt of, or reviewing the product at home- may not be, though, as the product is portable.

Mike Dammann said...

I will go ahead with the first one:
"It was recommended by her doctor because it is considered on of the best wrist blood pressure monitors."

He begins with it being recommended rather than stating "My doctor recommended it to me." This indicates distance from "doctor". Rather than just mentioning the doctor having recommended the product, he adds unnecessary information starting with "because...". This is of strong interest and indicates deception, especially due to being followed by "it is considered on of the best wrist blood pressure monitors."
According to whom?
He feels the need to justify the alleged doctor's recommendation and then adds what appears to be a doctor's endorsement. Except it isn't. He doesn't state "According to my doctor, it is considered one of the best blood pressure monitors". He starts after "because" with "it is". He does not tell us that the doctor considers it one of the best product, but instead states it as a fact without direct reference expecting the reader to accept it as such.

Deception detected!

The writer does not give us a true account of why he claims to have purchased the product, but rather a sales pitch.

Hey Jude said...

‘I like it. I got one for my grandparents and they did not like it as much. You do need to hold still for a good reading, but if you do then it's quick and matches hospital units quite well (I work in a hospital so of course I did a side by side). It tends to run just a little low and has the potential for inaccuracy if you move, but it's the best method I have found for tracking home BP. To alleviate potential error, always read in the same place (same chair) and in the same position. It's light and portable so you can take it with you as well, but you introduce the possibility for error. Don't use it to skip a doctor's appointment and be aware that your BP will almost always be higher with the white coated clinician is staring at you than when you are comfortably sitting at your kitchen table.’

——-

The second reviewer (newest first) avoids saying what ‘it’ is - she either calls it ‘it’ or a ‘method’ - she’s unwilling to call it a blood pressure monitor. It only matches ‘hospital units quite well’, rather than a hospital blood pressure monitor - it might just match the hospital decor quite well. She works in a hospital so ‘of course’ - need to persuade - she did a ‘side by side’, which is again, non-specific. She may have sat at a hospital bedside, or placed two files, or chairs, side by side.

‘It tends to run a little low and has the potential for inaccuracy if you move’ - this is to say that it records blood pressure too low - in addition, it is even more inaccurate if you move.

Need to hold still
It tends to run just a little low
Has the potential for inaccuracy
Potential error
you introduce the possibility for error

Despite her more than five points of dissatisfaction, including her (supposed) grandparents’ greater dissatisfaction with the product, the reviewer gives it five stars. She’s so uncomfortable with reviewing it positively that she avoids calling it a monitor, and draws unnecessary attention to her grandparents (of the generation more likely to purchase it) who ‘did not like it as much’. She advises not using it to skip a doctor’s appointment. She still gives it five stars, which would be unexpected, given the mixed review.

General P. Malaise said...

what you get to do if you answer one of those ads for making thousands of dollars working from home?

Unknown said...

Note also that the older reviews are all one sentencers. It isn't until page two that you will see 2 sentencers and not until the top of the 1st page that there are paragraphs. It looks unnatural and not coincidental. You will have review sections where you have short ones and long ones mixed together. This strongly indicates a strategy behind the commenting as in making sure to get the numbers of reviews up quickly and then making sure the top ones showing up on the main page being more in detail and reading like descriptions composed by the owner of a paragraph... seperated into several reviews without any of the points made repeating themselves. Also not natural as in a section with voluntary reviews, the same things that would impress one customer would be bound to be repeated at some point in such a large amount of reviews.

Hey Jude said...

Quite a few claim to have tested the product against the one in the doctor's office/hospital - need to persuade.

Tania Cadogan said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Tania Cadogan said...

Off topic

The Supreme Court said Monday it won't weigh in on the case of a teenager convicted of rape and murder whose story was documented in the Netflix series Making a Murderer.

As is typical, the justices did not explain their decision declining to take the case. The justices' decision leaves in place a lower court ruling against Brendan Dassey.

Dassey was 16 years old when he confessed to Wisconsin authorities that he had joined his uncle in raping and murdering photographer Teresa Halbach before burning her body in a bonfire.

Dassey's attorneys, however, say he's borderline intellectually disabled and was pressured into a false confession.

They wanted his confession thrown out and a new trial.

Wisconsin officials had urged the Supreme Court not to take the case, telling the court it shouldn't second-guess Wisconsin courts' determination that Dassey's confession was voluntary.

Prosecutors noted that Dassey's mother gave investigators permission to speak with him, that Dassey agreed as well and that during the interview investigators used only standard techniques such as adopting a sympathetic tone and encouraging honesty.

Dassey's attorneys can still try to get him a new trial but they'd have to convince a judge that newly discovered evidence warrants one.

The Supreme Court's decision comes as there are plans for a second season of Making a Murderer, which premiered on Netflix in 2015.

Viewers of the first season were introduced to Dassey's uncle, Steven Avery, who spent 18 years in prison for a rape before DNA testing exonerated him.

After his release, he filed a multi-million dollar civil suit over his conviction, but in 2005 as that lawsuit was pending he was arrested for and later convicted of Halbach's murder.

Avery maintains he was framed.

At Dassey's separate trial, video of him speaking with investigators and confessing to participating in Halbach's rape and murder played a central role.

Authorities had no physical evidence tying Dassey to the crimes, and he testified that his confession was 'made up' but a jury convicted him.

He's eligible for parole in 2048.

While Wisconsin courts ruled Dassey's confession was voluntary, a federal magistrate judge and a three-judge appeals court panel disagreed, saying he should be retried or released from prison.

Then, in late 2017, the full appeals court ruled 4-3 that the state courts' determination that Dassey's confession was voluntary was reasonable, meaning no release or retrial.

The Supreme Court's announcement it wouldn't take the case left that decision in place.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5883163/Supreme-Court-declines-hear-Making-Murderer-case.html

Chi Pong said...

I did all the fake reviews tee-hee...

mar said...

This site identifies the reviews for the above product as suspect.
They offer an important service to consumers, who may lack sufficient deception detecting skills.
They use algorithms and have a list of points they scan and analyze.

ttps://www.fakespot.com/about


Fakespot is a data analytics company committed to changing the way people shop online. We believe in the importance of user reviews. With so many online shopping options, a strong or weak product review can have a huge impact on whether or not a purchase is made. The credibility of these reviews is undermined by businesses who leave fake reviews for themselves or for their competitors – or by individuals with an undisclosed bias.

Shoppers in need of a second opinion use Fakespot when considering their next online purchase. Our patented algorithm looks for patterns to filter out reviews we think are unreliable. But don’t take our word for it – you be the judge.

Anonymous said...

Thanks Mars. Go back to Mars!

Chi Pong said...

I will like to know how to use software, Mar I will enjoy feeling confident in purchase.

Tania Cadogan said...

I have had free products which i have then had to review.
It is made clear by the suppliers that we must state that we have been asked to test the product for free.

Survey sites will often ask for product testers via filling in a survey and agreeing to be a tester if chosen or via filling in the survey and qualifying as per their remit.
Survey sites are an interesting way to make money or get vouchers plus we can help a company with deciding if a product is good enough for sale or things like product ideas.
They have several stages from initial product ideas, flavors or types, actual testing and reviewing and then it goes on sale.
Sometimes they will also ask about an item already on sale, which can means it stays, gets tweaked or withdrawn.
Some also do surveys regarding news, politics etc and it is neat seeing a survey i took part in being part of a report in the news as in x% said they would vote for whoever or whatever.
I always make it clear if it is a product i have been asked to test, i do not people to read my review and believe it to be because i bought the product and liked it rather than me having been given it.
If there are issues with the product i will say so and i have said so when it does not meet my expectations or is crap.
By not doing so we are in breach of the rules regarding advertising and promotion.

I have tested products from chocolate to beauty products such as body lotions,hand creams, face masks, pet food, DIY materials, cereals and a steam generator.
The last was the best since the manufacturer even sent over two interviewers from Germany to watch me iron(which i hate) how i used the product, any suggestions i had of which i had plenty on how to improve it from safety (using the self clean programme and carrying the container which would then be filled with water and preventing scalding and spillage) the bonus was i got to keep the rather expensive product.

Some companies will get us to test said product, sometimes specifying when to use it and how and when the testing is done we have to return any unused product.
Other specify when to use it and in what order and to keep a diary.

When i do my reviews for the company if it is a food item i go into detail as to appearance of packaging , any damage to it, ease of opening etc.
then it is the appearance of the item, color, damage or bits. The it is taste, mouth feel . Is it smooth or gritty, too hard or too soft, after taste etc.
Most companies for food items have a long list of questions about what is being tested with multiple choice answers plus the chance to add extra comments.
WE have the paper questionnaire which we fill in during said test then we fill in the form online using our written answers as a reminder.

What i have noticed reading other testers reviews for the same product i am testing is that many have no idea how to write a review and will say they like it and give a 5* review thinking by doing so they will be asked again.

Others will read the reviews of other testers first and pretty much copy what they say, sometimes even word for word, either through laziness, not understanding what is required or because they want to be asked to test again.

Tania Cadogan said...

cont.

Some companies will be happy with that, the more responsible ones will not use those respondents because they want a genuine review and feedback if the product is not up to scratch,
I confess that when i have a product which is not as described or up to scratch is will be blunt, to the point and occasionally sarcastic ( cereal supposedly with lots of fruit in resulted in my comment about playing hunt the fruit)
Some tests/trials we get via surveys so we get points which can be converted to vouchers for stores like Amazon, others we get a reward direct from the company either a voucher or sometimes cash via paypal or check or we get to keep said product for free.
Others fopr expensive trials such as new phones, gadgets etc require a deposit which is returned if the product is sent back at the end of the trial or kept if the tester decides to take the option of keeping said product and also given a discount.
~I don't do the deposit ones as the deposit is usually too high or the product is something i am not interested in.

I can only comment on the way such tests/trials are done in the UK and how the reviews must be done, often you have to post a review on certain sites usually Amazon, certain store sites such as supermarkets, social media and it has to be stated that the reviewer got the product free from whoever and this is the review on said free product.

Terry said...

I am thrilled with the new Pixie palette makeup. I got all 3 for my bday. Gorgeous colors. You can play and mix them together. Cream blush is so moisturizing. I want to be a make-up artist to help people with their confidence.

Paul said...

1 thing.

Many of the headline descriptions say "Five Stars" in addition to an actual five star rating, instead of giving pertinent information as to what is to follow in the review.

trollslayer said...

I have read a lot of reviews on Amazon when trying to find the best products to buy.

One thing that is invariably true is that there are always negative reviews, someone will say that it arrived broken, smelled strange, or something, and rate it lower.

I actually look at the critical reviews first to see what points they have.

It is a big red flag that no one gave under five stars, yet they are all so lukewarm in their praise, it is "farely" (sic) accurate, or it "seems to be accurate".

Unknown said...

Quick correction:
The total number of reviews is 49, not 100. 100% of those 49 reviews are 5 star.

Anonymous said...

What about thebook reviews? A title may have different publishers which all produce varying quality but amzn uses the same reveiws. The buyer cant tell which version is being reviewed. If the title has 5 different publishers then amzn uses the exact same review for all 5 different versions. Buyer cannot tell which version has been evaluated.

Unknown said...

Actually it looks like Amazon deleted half of the reviews.

Statement Analysis Blog said...

How many reviewers purchased the product?

GeekRad said...

Five reviewers made the purchase. The five that discussed operational issues of the product.

mar said...

Peter,
If you filter the reviews by "Verified Purchase", not one of them did.


Andrea said...

Would anyone like to analyze Terry at 10:16's "review"? Im noticing deception indicators. What do you guys/gals think?

Hey Jude said...

It took me a while - it's not easy to find that 'verified purchase' drop down - Amazon should make it prominent if it intends for reviews to be a genuine guide for potential customers. I looked through a couple of the other products 'purchased' by the same reviewers, for which there are also no verified purchases. A lot of the reviews which were there yesterday for the blood pressure monitor are no longer there.

Unknown said...

How many reviewers purchased the product?

Sorry, no reviews match your current selections.
https://www.amazon.com/Fam-health-Automatic-Detection-90-memory-large-Adjusts-Time/product-reviews/B07BW8W4S2/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_viewopt_rvwer?ie=UTF8&reviewerType=avp_only_reviews&pageNumber=1

Samantha_C said...

When you combine all the lengthier anecdotal reviews, it reads like a very detailed product description. Each review covers one key point. There were quite a few medical terms used as well. Each reviewer seemed very comfortable and familiar with the product, even though they owned it a short period of time.

Hey Jude said...

The review I looked at yesterday is no longer there - it was there, for sure...

The older one-line 'reviews', some just one or two words - would not qualify as paid reviews - the company would surely expect more? It is most likely the company employees made the flurry of one liners, which were followed up with the paid for reviews nearer the top?

A June 25 review ends with:
'This product was purchased at a discount for product testing and reviewing. It works well and we are very satisfied with the purchase.'

There are no verified purchases - so how does that work? Interesting that only one reviewer (?) includes that. If it's true, it's a review of a product which was not purchased through Amazon's system - if it's an 'off-line' discounted purchase it should not be allowed to be reviewed as though bought via Amazon.



Anonymous said...

It's impossible to make 100% of the people happy all of the time.
Some are going to have a bad day and inflict their emotions into a product or service regardless the quality.
Some have second thoughts and instead of stating they changed their mind, they criticize.

I'd expect an average of 80% to be four stars and up.

Some reviewers on yelp, I noticed, claims they fired the person that was being complained about. After hiring them, I noticed something about the person they sent that would cause a woman to complain and inquired about their rating system. He said something about some woman going into a rampage and I knew it was him they'd complained about. The boss lied to get her off his back. He did good work. However, he was about work and wasn't suitable for every personality under which he'd be sent to perform services.

That's life.

Foolsfeedonfolly said...

Peter- Thank you very much for this teaching moment today. I have a family member who purchased this item several months ago on Amazon from that same seller. Her doctor advised her that the cuff gave inaccurate readings. After sharing your article with her (and the suspect 7 pages of 5-Star "Customer Reviews"), she contacted Amazon for a successful refund. Again, thank you!

I've ordered from Amazon a number of times and read the reviews-I'd like to think I'd have caught that, but maybe not. I tend to look for bad reviews due to people with unrealistic expectations of an item-why they're complaining.

I wonder if people assume because it's an Amazon fulfillment item, it's automatically o.k. somehow.

Chi Pong said...

I think master will say if we figure out amazon deception.

m said...

Interesting, Kathead.

Maybe they have samples, a template or a list of recommendations of how to create the reviews.

General P. Malaise said...

I often use the 1 / 2 or 3 star ratings for amazon purchases. if the reviewer has an respectable reason and explains their position the review becomes more relevant.

Statement Analysis Blog said...

My article should say "100%" five star.

If you hit to show you verified purchaser reviews only, as of yesterday, there were...

Zero.

49 shill interviews.

Some of the interviewers are paid reviewers (free object). As Amazon no longer allows this, the Chinese are by passing it by using Pay Pal.

You buy the product and if you leave a 5 star review, they refund your PayPal account.

Lots of deception in Chinese factories, including material shaving, and on outright theft of American business, but more on this later.



Peter

Unknown said...

You mean that the refunds are done via Amazon through PayPal?
How exactly can someone demanding a refund give the same product 5 stars?
Now we're down to 30 reviews...

Anonymous said...

https://mobile.twitter.com/hashtag/TheDemocratsUnhinged?src=hashtag_click

Statement Analysis Blog said...

I should have explained more clearly...typing on break during training!

For some, the Chinese companies directly email the reviewers.

The refund is through PayPal which circumvents Amazon. This will come up as "verified purchaser" but are still shills.

On this case, the item I posted about:

Of the reviewers that gave 100% 5 star rating, NOT ONE of them purchased the item!

Peter

Anonymous said...


https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/kansas/articles/2018-06-27/the-latest-autopsy-cant-determine-how-wichita-boy-killed


The Latest: Autopsy Can't Determine How Wichita Boy Killed
An autopsy of a 5-year-old Wichita boy couldn't determine how he died.

June 27, 2018, at 3:28 p.m.

The Latest: Autopsy Can't Determine How Wichita Boy Killed

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The Latest in the case of missing Wichita boy whose body was found last month (all times local):

2 p.m.

An autopsy of a 5-year-old Wichita boy couldn't determine how he died.

The Wichita Eagle reported Wednesday that the autopsy report of Lucas Hernandez released Wednesday lists both the cause and manner of his death as undetermined.

Lucas was missing for more than three months when his father's live-in girlfriend, Emily Glass, led a private investigator on May 24 to his body under a bridge in rural Harvey County.

Glass took her own life two weeks after his body was found, according to her autopsy report that was also released Wednesday.

The report on the boy's body says his body was found "in a state of advanced decomposition under a pile of debris in a culvert." It noted that x-rays showed "no obvious skeletal trauma."

District Attorney Marc Bennett says he will make a formal announcement early next week after reviewing the autopsies.

___

12:39 p.m.

An autopsy has determined that a Kansas woman who led an investigator to the body of her 5-year-old stepson subsequently killed herself.

The Wichita Eagle reports that the findings of Emily Glass' autopsy were filed Tuesday in Sedgwick County District Court. Glass' boyfriend, Jonathan Hernandez, found the 27-year-old woman dead this month of a gunshot wound. Police have said they found three suicide notes with her body.

Glass reported Hernandez' son, Lucas, missing on Feb. 17. After she was acquitted of child endangerment in an unrelated case involving her own daughter, she led the private investigator to Lucas' body on May 24. She was arrested on suspicion of lying to authorities, but freed. Prosecutors didn't charge her in Lucas' death but described her as a person of interest.

Unknown said...

It was down to 30 reviews, but they keep adding new ones. Back up to 43 reviews and all 5 stars. Why is Amazon allowing non-verified purchasers to leave reviews?

sonjay said...

Verified purchase simply means the person bought the product on Amazon using the account they're currently signed in with.

I've left reviews on Amazon of products I've purchased elsewhere, or products I purchased using a different account. So non-verified purchase reviews aren't necessarily a shill review.

But yes, 100% of reviews being from non-verified purchases should set off red flags.

Anonymous said...

OT: D/V red flags in blog...

"I take a little pride in telling people I wake up early everyday at 4:30am. It sounds insanely early, right? I never thought I’d be THAT early of a bird — but apparently I am.

I often hear, “I don’t know how you do that” or “You’re crazy” or “I could never do that.”

It’s not easy but, it works. I am kind of worthless after work and so, it’s in those before-work hours that I cram in all of my productivity. That’s how I juggle my many hats!

By 9am, I’ve exercised, meditated, blogged, started dinner, done some writing, eaten breakfast and caught up on the news. No, I don’t have kids — yet 🙂

So, how do I drag my tired butt out of bed at such an ungodly hour every weekday morning? Here ya go :

Set ONE alarm. I do NOT hit snooze. Snooze is the enemy of getting up early. You have to train your body to get up when your alarm goes off — no excuses. Determine in your head that you only get one shot. 30 days to make a habit folks!
Ignore the pain. It’s painful to leave a warm, comfy bed, I know. That’s where you need perspective. The benefits of getting up far outweigh the luxury of staying in bed (most of the time!). If you have stuff to get done, you have a much better chance of doing it in the morning.
Tip for ignoring the pain: Mantras! Just do it!
Pre-made coffee. My coffee pot is ready to go the night before so all I have to do is press a button to get some. You can even pre-set it to start running so it’s done when you get up. I’m just too lazy to figure out the timer thing on my pot 🙂
Cold water. Your body needs hydration in the AM. One way to naturally wake yourself up is with a big glass of cold water first thing. I recommend the chug method — it works for me in more ways than one.
Morning routine. The very first thing I do when I get up is brush teeth — telling my mouth to wake up! Then, I splash water on my face until I feel slightly more alive. By that time, I’m ready to go grab that cup of coffee.
No immediate pressure. While my workout is an early morning priority, 5am is too early for all that action. Instead, I grab my Bible and notebook (could be any kind of motivational book for you of course) and read passages, write down things I’m thankful for — and my prayers. My brain starts working and by the end of my quiet time, I’m feel much more awake.
Split second decision making. I know for a fact that my best writing is done with a fresh mind in the morning. I know that if I don’t do something in the morning, it’s much less likely to get done. I’ve learned that priorities are best taken care of with the morning light. All of those things float through my mind in the split second I open my eyes and make the decision whether to stay in bed or get up. I nearly always choose to get up.
Not everyone is an early bird — and you certainly don’t have to be. But, busy lives call for a little discipline and getting up at 4:30 could be your new best friend. I never would have been able to study enough for my recent CPT certification or get all my extra freelance work done or make great strides in CrossFit without making myself get up early.

You will find me in bed by 10pm every night. It all depends on how much sleep YOU need. But if you’re looking for a way to change your life for the better and get more things done, I recommend trying my proven methodology"

Anonymous said...

OT: Are there any lessons on "swallow" or "chug"?

Tania Cadogan said...

Off topic BBM

The boyfriend of a California woman whose 10-year-old son died last week under suspicious circumstances – and following a dozen referrals of suspected child abuse over several years – was arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of murder, sheriff’s officials said.

Kareem Leiva, 32, was arrested in the death of Anthony Avalos after an interview with Los Angeles County sheriff’s detectives Wednesday. The arrest came one day after county child-welfare officials revealed that the boy had previously reported being beaten, locked up and not fed.

The Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services said in a statement Monday that the boy came out as gay just weeks before his suspicious death. Brandon Nichols, deputy director of the agency, said that Avalos “said he liked boys” but did not elaborate further, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Sheriff's deputies were called to a home in Lancaster, in the high desert Antelope Valley north of Los Angeles, on June 20 after Anthony's mother called 911 to report that he had fallen down the stairs. Deputies found him unresponsive in the home and he died at a hospital the next day.

The boy's mother, Heather Barron, and Leiva — her boyfriend and the father of some of her other children — were both questioned by homicide detectives and Leiva was arrested Wednesday afternoon. The boy's mother has not been arrested and is not facing any criminal charges.

On Wednesday, detectives noticed that Leiva had a previous injury – a laceration on his chest they believed was self-inflicted – and required medical attention. He was expected to be held on $2 million bail once he’s medically cleared.

"During the course of their interview, suspect Leiva made statements that led detectives to arrest him," Los Angeles County Sheriff Jim McDonnell said. He declined to elaborate.

McDonnell said the extent of the boy's injuries was "grossly overstated" by child welfare officials and told reporters that detectives did not find cigarette burns on Anthony's body. He declined to provide specific details of the boy's injuries until an autopsy is finalized.

“What you’ve heard there is not accurate based on what our detectives have seen,” McDonnell said.

After Anthony's death, child welfare officials removed eight other children — between 11 months and 12 years old — from the home. They are being cared for by county child welfare workers, officials said.

Child welfare officials said Anthony had been removed from his home for several months when some of the reports of abuse were substantiated. He was returned after family members received in-home counseling, the agency said.

The agency said it confirmed two allegations involving sexual abuse when Anthony was four but the case was closed when it was determined that his mother was properly caring for him. The last referral regarding Anthony was in April 2016 alleging general neglect, but the allegations were deemed unfounded, officials said.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2018/06/27/mother-s-boyfriend-arrested-in-death-10-year-old-boy-who-complained-about-abuse-police.html

Lily said...

Love to hear Peter's analysis of this 911 call. You can listen to it at https://www.kansas.com/news/local/crime/article213997314.html

Dispatcher: 911, what is the location of your emergency?

Hernandez: Yes, ma’am. It’s 655 S. Edgemoor.

Dispatcher: And repeat the address for verification.

Hernandez: 655 S. Edgemoor.

Dispatcher: What’s a good phone number for you?

Hernandez: (redacted)

Dispatcher: OK. Tell me exactly what happened.

Hernandez: Oh, it’s the first time I’ve been home in like three weeks. Uh, my fiancée has been staying here, and I had nowhere else to go tonight. So I asked her, ‘Hey are you awake?’ etc. and she didn’t answer. So I came home, and it’s so bad. It’s so bad.

Dispatcher: What happened?

Hernandez: I, I saw my rifle.

Dispatcher: OK, did, so did she shoot herself?

Hernandez: At her feet, at her feet. Yes, I think so. I think so. Her brain is laying on the carpet and her head is split wide open.

Dispatcher: OK. Where is the gun at now?

Hernandez: It’s at her feet.

Dispatcher: OK. And you said it’s a rifle?

Hernandez: Yes, ma’am.

Dispatcher: OK. Have you seen any other weapons?

Hernandez: No, ma’am. I have a shotgun in the closet — if it’s still there. I haven’t even checked. But there was only my rifle that it looks like she got out of the case.

Dispatcher: OK. And is any one else injured that you know of?

Hernandez: No, ma’am.

Dispatcher: OK. What is her name?

Hernandez: Her name is (redacted).

Dispatcher: OK. What race is she?

Hernandez: White.

Dispatcher: How old is she?

Hernandez: Uh, 27, 28. She was born in ’91. Sorry, I can’t think right now.

Dispatcher: That’s OK. You said she was 27 or 28?

Hernandez: Yes, ma’am.

Dispatcher: How tall is she?

Hernandez: About 5-7.

Dispatcher: Is she thin, medium or heavy build?

Hernandez: Thin.

Dispatcher: Can you tell at all what she’s wearing right now?

Hernandez: Uh, I can’t remember. I’m sitting on the back porch.

Dispatcher: That’s OK, that’s OK.

Hernandez: Yeah, it was a T-shirt and looked like sleep pants or something.

Dispatcher: OK. Does she have a vehicle there?

Hernandez: She does.

Dispatcher: OK.

Hernandez: It’s in the garage.

Dispatcher: OK. What kind of vehicle does she drive?

Hernandez: It’s a white 2006 Acura SUV. I think it’s called an MDX.

Dispatcher: Do you know what the tag number is on it?

Hernandez: I don’t. I can get into the garage and tell you.

Dispatcher: No, that’s OK. It’s not a big deal at all. I just have to make sure I get a description. OK, and what is your name?

Hernandez: My name is (redacted).

Dispatcher: OK. And I’ve got to go ahead and get a description of you also. What race are you?

Hernandez: I am half-white, half-Mexican.

Dispatcher: OK. And how old are you?

Hernandez: I am 34.

Dispatcher: How tall are you?

Hernandez: Uh, 6-2.

Dispatcher: Thin, medium or heavy build?

Hernandez: Skinny.

Dispatcher: OK. What are you wearing?

Hernandez: I’m wearing a blue shirt and kind of white - not white pants, but they would look white.

Dispatcher: OK. That’s fine. And do you have a vehicle there?

Hernandez: Yes I do.

Dispatcher: What do you drive?

Hernandez: It’s a silver Dodge.

Dispatcher: OK.

Hernandez: And, and officers have arrived.

Dispatcher: OK. I’ll go ahead and let you talk to the officers. Thank you.

Hernandez: OK, thank you.

Dispatcher: Uh-huh. Bye.

Unknown said...

"But yes, 100% of reviews being from non-verified purchases should set off red flags."
From what I have seen, Amazon does not examine reviews on items sold, but rather looks for suspicious accounts. The reviews removed were not reviews removed from the item, but rather accounts having made reviews being removed from their network and with that all reviews they have made. The latest review on the above product for example is from this account:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/profile/amzn1.account.AFTILTI7NOBITB35ZPQ4YG33JEDQ/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_pdp?ie=UTF8
31 5 star reviews left from this account indicates that it is part of a network or company those 31 companies have hired for reviews. Professional Amazon review services are frequently advertised. Amazon doesn't seem to want to upset sellers. But they take the other route of looking for suspicious accounts.

Yes, it is lame, but they must figure that even those who shill reviews still generate them revenue and activity. Which is why we see the all too obvious remaining present for far too long.

habundia said...

54 reviews on 29 of June....seems like they filled up with new ones.....looking like those before.
"Extremely long lasting battery"
How long did this customer had this product to conclude it has an 'extremely long lasting battery'?
How long would that be? How often has it been used for what period of time to come to this conclusion?

If no one bought it trough Amazon why is it being reviewed there? I know many companies have there own rating site to leave a review of the product one bought....did they all send it back although it was rated 5 stars 100% of the time......regardless the fact some did "experienced" negative result.

'Easy to use'
As long you follow instructions carefully.....and use it as it's been adviced (in manual)
Isn't the equipment of doctors easy to use?
So what made it easy to use.
Some made a set of "rules" to use it for accuracy. 'Sit still and don't move around", you don't run trough the doctors office when your BP is measured? Do you?

"z: Oh, it’s the first time I’ve been home in like three weeks. Uh, my fiancée has been staying here, and I had nowhere else to go tonight. So I asked her, ‘Hey are you awake?’ etc. and she didn’t answer. So I came home, and it’s so bad. It’s so bad"

This part is odd.
Where was he at those three (!) weeks before he got home? For the first time in 3 weeks....why didn't he come home for 3 weeks? (Argument? Cheating? Work?
His fiancée (no proper and full introduction) "has been staying here"
Where is that? Home? He doesn't say it....she "has been staying here" ( 655 S. Edgemoor)
He had "nowhere else to go"
Why would he have had to go anywhere else if he has a home?
Where they separated for a time and had stayed with others until nobody had room for him? Or was kicked out and had "nowhere else to go tonight"?
He asked "hey are you awake? etc. She doesn't answer.
How did he 'ask her this question if she didn't answer?
He came home and it's so bad.
What was bad?
They had a fight because he was gone for 3 weeks and decided to come back home?
If she was staying here and he got home "she was home" so why did he need to ask 'are you awake?' he could have went home immediately. (She didn't answer and he went home regardless)
His fiancee is shot (he tells it as if she was before he came home) yet the first thing he noticed is his rifle
it's laying at her feet.
"Her brain is laying on the carpet and her head is split wide open."
this is the 'second thing" he noticed. She went from fiancee to her...distancing further.
Her brain is over the carpet, her head split yet he "only thinks" she shot herself (dispatcher shouldn't have made conclusions and should have asked what it was about the rifle he saw)
He now didn't had to say she shot herself (and lie) dispatcher did it for him he only had to say yes (he choose 'i think so')

"not white pants, but they would look white."
He got blood on it?

Based on what I read (didn't hear the recording) I would say.....ruled out suicide.

happyuk said...

Based on the reviews I have read I would say these people display sociopathic tendencies. They appear to think nothing of putting about dangerously misleading reviews of questionable medical devices as being "good enough".

Mike Dammann said...

I do not see the sociopath connection at all. These people are hired to work. This is their job.

Mike Dammann said...

When you are on the clock, you don't represent yourself. You represent the company you work for and whatever task you are assigned to. I am sure many of these people hate what they are doing. But financial pressure is getting the best of them. So they give up their own identity and feelings when on duty, cash their checks... and live their otherwise non-sociopathic lives for the most part.