GOLDEN RULES:
- Slow it down - Scams are often designed to create a sense of urgency. Take time to ask questions and think it through.
- Spot check - Do your research to double check the details you are getting. Does what they’re telling you make sense?
- Stop! Don’t send - No reputable person or agency will ever demand payment or your personal information on the spot.
You receive an email claiming to be from a representative for a well-known brand, offering an opportunity to collaborate together on an online influencer campaign. The scammer offers a generous payment, but then tries to convince you to send them money upfront for products and shipping costs.
Official brand representatives do not solicit promotional partnerships via Gmail accounts and these types of arrangements are not legitimate. Do not reply back with your personal details or send money to these individuals.
Gmail Influencer Scam Example:
Resources:
- If you have already encountered a Gmail influencer scam, and/or have sent a payment, you can report the scam to the appropriate authorities.
- If the correspondence you received came from a Gmail address, you can report the Gmail account to help Google take appropriate action on accounts involved in this scam.