Fraud in the name of affiliate marketing is unfortunately quite common and can take several forms. Below is a breakdown to help you identify and avoid these scams:
Common Types of Affiliate Marketing Fraud1. Fake Affiliate Programs
* How it works: Scammers promise huge commissions and ask for an upfront “registration” fee.
* Red flags: No clear product/service, no verifiable company, vague or exaggerated earnings.
2. Ponzi or MLM Disguised as Affiliate
* How it works: Participants earn money by recruiting others, not by selling real products.
* Red flags: Heavy focus on recruitment, not on product sales; earning charts that look too good to be true.
3. Impersonation
* How it works: Scammers impersonate legitimate companies (e.g., Amazon, Flipkart) and offer fake affiliate partnerships.
* Red flags: Contact via WhatsApp or Telegram, no official domain/email, asking for deposits.
How to Identify a Legitimate Affiliate Program
Clear, transparent terms and conditions No upfront fees to join A real product or service is involved Official domain and contact methods Reviews from trustworthy sources Payments through reliable methods (PayPal, bank, etc.)
How to Protect Yourself* Research thoroughly before joining any affiliate program.
* Avoid upfront payments. Legitimate programs don’t charge to join.
* Check domain names and email addresses for authenticity. For example the original domain name is amazon.com and fraudsters use something like amazzon.com
* Read reviews on forums like Reddit, Trustpilot, etc.
* Report fraud to cybercrime portals or consumer protection agencies.
Real-World Examples1. WhatsApp/Telegram Scam:
“Get ₹1,000 per day by joining our affiliate program. Pay ₹500 registration fee.” – No official website, vanishes after payment.
2. Fake Amazon Affiliate Invites:
Emails or messages pretending to be Amazon, asking for sign-up fees or your login credentials.
If you suspect a program is a scam and want help verifying it, feel free to share the name or link — I can help you analyze it.