LOS ANGELES—Los Angeles-based Fashion Nova will be required to pay $4.2 million to settle allegations it blocked negative reviews of its products from being posted to its website, the Federal Trade Commission announced on Jan. 25. The trade commission alleged the fast-fashion online retailer misrepresented that the reviews on its website reflected the views of all purchasers who submitted reviews, when in fact it suppressed reviews with ratings lower than four stars out of five. This is the trade commission’s first involving a company’s efforts to conceal negative customer reviews. “Deceptive review practices cheat consumers, undercut honest businesses and pollute online commerce,” Samuel Levine, director of the commission’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, said in a statement. “Fashion Nova is being held accountable for these practices, and other firms should take note.” A message to a Fashion Nova representative from City News Service seeking comment was not immediately answered. According to …