November 20, 2024 at 08:49AM
Amazon, Amazon Music, and Audible have experienced an influx of fake listings promoting dubious forex trading sites, pirated software, and spammy links. These listings, including zero-second audio episodes, exploit the platforms for SEO manipulation. The issue highlights a broader problem of spam in digital content distribution.
### Meeting Takeaways:
1. **Issues with Amazon Listings**:
– Amazon, Amazon Music, and Audible are facing an influx of fraudulent listings that promote dubious “forex trading” sites and pirated software.
– BleepingComputer discovered multiple such listings across various Amazon domains (US, UK, Australia).
2. **Abuse of Podcasting and Music Platforms**:
– Similar tactics as seen on Spotify are being employed, where playlists and podcasts are used to promote illegal software and trading schemes.
– Listings often feature zero-second audio episodes, serving no legitimate purpose aside from SEO poisoning.
3. **Specific Examples Noted**:
– An Amazon Music listing linked to software cracks was found in Google searches.
– Listings for “bot trading software” were identified, indicating a broader strategy for promoting illicit products.
4. **Promotion of Illicit Trading Platforms**:
– The name “EliteMarketMovers” appears frequently in these fraudulent listings, linking users to suspicious Telegram and YouTube channels.
– The associated website for EliteMarketMovers is currently non-functional, raising further concerns about its legitimacy.
5. **Framework for Spam Control**:
– Third-party services like Firstory are being misused for podcast distribution, suggesting vulnerabilities in the publishing system.
– Firstory acknowledges challenges with spam and is actively working on measures to filter out fraudulent accounts and content.
6. **Ongoing Collaboration and Response**:
– BleepingComputer reached out to Amazon and Audible regarding the issue; an example listing was promptly removed by Amazon.
– Firstory’s co-founder expressed commitment to enhancing spam prevention and working with streaming platforms to tackle the issue.
### Action Items:
– Monitor the situation on digital platforms and follow up on the response from Amazon and Audible.
– Continue collaboration with podcast hosting services to address spam and fraudulent listings.