Chasing spammers: Using the Internet Protocol address for detection

Abstract

The proliferation of reviews evaluating different services on social networks and online platforms and their importance in consumer decision-making has led some unscrupulous individuals to take advantage of the anonymity offered by the Internet to manipulate these reviews and influence customers’ decisions. The main objectives of this study are: (1) to test whether spammers usually perform their misdemeanours from the same IP address; (2) to explore whether there are differences between stated sexes in this regard; (3) to detect the main motivations for posting fraudulent reviews; and (4) to determine the motivations for doing so from the same IP address. (...)