Amazon investigating claims from employees with data leaks for bribery

(Reuters) – Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O) said on Monday that he was investigating alleged internal leaks of confidential information by his employees for bribes to be used to remove fake magazines and other vendor scams from his website.

Amazon employees offer internal data and other classified information through intermediaries to independent merchants who sell their products on the site to help them increase their sales in exchange for payments, a reported Sunday the Wall Street Journal.

The practice, which is a violation of company policy, is particularly strong in China, adds the report, while the number of sellers is increasing.

"We impose high ethical standards on our employees and anyone who violates our code faces disciplinary action, including lay-offs and potential legal and criminal penalties," a company spokesman told Reuters.

Brokers for Amazon's employees in Shenzhen are proposing internal sales measures and e-mail addresses of reviewers, as well as a negative deletion service and restoration of banned Amazon accounts in exchange for payments ranging from $ 80 to over $ 2,000.

The e-commerce giant is also investigating a number of cases involving employees, including some in the United States, who are suspected of accepting bribes, according to the newspaper.