LinkedIn
social network
+357 96 503707
Our Cases
About us
Discord
Talent Management & Exclusive Roster
01.
02.
03.
Blog & E-Library
04.
Twitter
05.
HypeDetect AI: Influencer Selection
Press & Media
06.
EN
ID
中文
Careers
07.
LinkedIn
+357 96 503707
Discord
Our Cases
About us
Talent Management & Exclusive Roster
01.
02.
03.
Blog & E-Library
04.
Twitter
HypeDetect AI: Influencer Selection
05.
Press & Media
06.
ID
EN
中文
Careers
07.
By using this website you agree to our cookie policy.
Got it!
Spotting Influencer Scam: What You Need to Know
People engage in influencer scam when they pose as well-known people on social media in order to get free stuff or money from a brand. Some examples of this scam include an influencer who dishonestly inflates their following or uses a false number of a follower to make themselves look more significant than they actually are. To trick a brand into thinking they're getting a fantastic deal on an influencer when, in fact, they're not.
The brand might suffer significant losses due to wasted marketing budgets campaign, damaged brand reputations, and distrust from consumers as a result of this scam. The brand campaign must exercise extreme caution when selecting their influencer collaborations for this same reason.
In this article, we will go over some typical scam and the signs that should make you wary. If you follow these guidelines, you should have no trouble telling the truth and safeguarding the trust, funds, and reputation of your brand.
The brand might suffer significant losses due to wasted marketing budgets campaign, damaged brand reputations, and distrust from consumers as a result of this scam. The brand campaign must exercise extreme caution when selecting their influencer collaborations for this same reason.
In this article, we will go over some typical scam and the signs that should make you wary. If you follow these guidelines, you should have no trouble telling the truth and safeguarding the trust, funds, and reputation of your brand.
Types of Influencer Scam: What to Watch Out For
There is a wide variety of scam that an influencer could encounter, but some are more prevalent than others. Among these, here are a handful to watch:
Scam in Influencer Collaboration and False Sponsorships
In an attempt to con a smaller influencer into a "collaboration," Instagram scam will frequently contact them while posing as an influencer or brand. After promising you exposure or growth in exchange for illusory "fees," they may vanish after you pay them.
Phishing Attacks
Frauds engage in phishing when they attempt to steal sensitive information or money by impersonating a trusted source. Mostly Instagram frauds may approach you by email, social media, WhatsApp, or Telegram, but these are the most common methods.
Deceptive Advertising Campaign
There is an Instagram creator out there who will say they can help smaller creator with a promotion or even "coaching" them. Even if they promised to increase your involvement or following, they will just take your money and vanish.
Pay-for-Likes Scam
In these types of Instagram scam, an imposter pretends to be an authentic brand or individual and gives you money just for liking videos on platforms like TikTok or YouTube. Typically, they will demand payment in advance, take the money, and then vanish.
Stolen Content and Impersonation
Most Instagram Scammers will occasionally fabricate accounts using stolen media in an effort to fool their followers into thinking they are interacting with an authentic individual. Keep an eye out for these strategies to avoid being a victim of this scam.
Doing influencer marketing in-house requires significant effort and resources. We’ve been working with major brands and creators globally for more than 7 years.
Is It a Scam? 9 Warning Signs to Look For
Requests for Upfront Payment
Scammers often ask for an upfront payment, calling them “collaboration fees” and claiming it’s standard (it’s not). Real partnerships usually collaboration clear conditions, with compensation happening after the work is completed.
Offers That Sound Too Good to Be True
If the offer seems way too generous—like promises of rapid growth, massive exposure, or unusually high pay — it’s likely a scam. Trust your instincts.
Poorly Written or Generic Communication
While not everyone is a great writer, fraudster tend to send messages that are poorly written, vague, or sound like they were run through a translator. Legit brand and an Instagram influencer, even if informal, keep their communication clear and professional.
No Online Presence on Instagram
Be cautious if the brand or influencer reaching out has little to no online presence. Check for a website or active social media. Scammers often have minimal or sketchy profiles with little real involvement.
Pressure Tactics
Legitimate opportunities don’t come with high-pressure sales tactics. If you feel rushed into making a decision or payment, step back. Real deals allow you time to think and discuss.
Requests for Sensitive Information
Never share personal info including your bank details or login credentials. Real collaborations don’t need this kind of sensitive data.
Inconsistent Branding
Pay attention to mismatched logos or poorly designed materials. Scammers often don’t put in the effort to create a cohesive, professional brand image.
No Clear Terms or Agreements
Legitimate partnerships come with clear contracts, outlining what’s expected, deadlines, and payment details. If the terms are vague or someone won’t provide more info, proceed with caution.
Sudden Changes to Terms
If conditions have previously been agreed upon, you should be suspicious of any unexpected revisions to the agreement or requests for funds. Trustworthy partnerships honor the original deal and remain transparent.
How to Verify Authenticity: A Checklist to Ensure Everything Is Legit
You're still not sure regarding the legitimacy of the collaborative proposal, even though it seems legitimate. Before proceeding, make sure everything is in order by following these steps:
1. Look Up the Product or Person on Google
Investigate them on several web platforms, including their social media accounts and website. Consistent branding and regular web activity are what you're after.
2. Verify Engagement and Follower
Check out the ratio of loyalty to followers. Be wary if there is little involvement despite a large number of followers or if the number of individuals followed is significantly higher than the number of followers.
3. Check the Contact Details
Verify that the influencer information they've supplied for contact is identical to what's displayed on their official profiles.
4. Lookup Current Events and Scam Warnings
A quick Google search using their influencer name or brand in conjunction with the phrase "scam" will provide any pertinent alerts or complaints.
5. Inquire about References
Inquire about their past campaign collaborations or get in touch with a creator who has collaborated with them to get their thoughts.
6. Set Up a Video Chat.
Request a video call if you're still unclear after reading this. In most campaign cases, the creator prefers to remain anonymous.
7. Obtain a Comprehensive Brand Contract
The parties should have a written agreement outlining the campaign goals, timeline, and payment terms. Clear terms will be provided by a legitimate collaborator.
Ways for Identifying Influencer Scam
Five simple signs that an influencer scam is underway:
1. Evaluate Efficacy of Followers
Regular engagement and collaboration with the content is a hallmark of a genuine influencer's follower. A suspiciously large number of followers with almost no engagement (likes, comments, or shares) may be a sign of scam followers. Authentic participation demonstrates sincere curiosity, whereas exaggerated figures frequently appear insincere.
2. Review the Caliber of Your Followers
To determine if an influencer's followers are authentic, you might use a service like Influencity. To help you identify warning signs and make more informed decisions about cooperation, these tools measure factors like audience collaboration, activity levels, and authenticity.
3. Confirm the Partnerships They Have Heard Of
A reputable influencer has a track record of successful collaborations with a brand. Inquire about case studies or samples of their previous participation, and think about contacting the brands they've collaborated with to verify their reputation and success.
4. Evaluate the Reliability and Quality of Their Content
True influencers consistently engage their audience with high-quality content. Creating genuine content is often out of the reach of scammers. To find out if they stick to a routine and if their material gets real engagement, follow their posts from the beginning to the end.
5. Inquire about Comprehensive Analytics
Any genuine influencer worth their salt will gladly give you the lowdown on their following, engagement, and marketing ROI. Something is amiss in your campaign if they either deny or are unable to supply these statistics. Verifying their credibility requires openness.
Learn more about our approach to selecting the best influencers for your campaign.
The Bottom Line
Stick to these guidelines, but ultimately, listen to your intuition. Jumping on every cooperation opportunity that comes your way may be incredibly tempting, especially when you're a rookie creator. Shammers, alas, frequently seek to take advantage of such eagerness. The perfect campaign partnerships will come your way if you just be yourself. Do your best to avoid falling victim to internet scam while you wait.
Don’t let scammers take advantage of you and your campaign. Let’s launch compliant and effective campaign with influencers together.