Affiliate marketing is a totally legit model. But there are affiliate marketing scams lurking in the shadows, waiting to catch their prey.
And unfortunately, that prey just happens to be beginners with little to no knowledge on the world of online money-making.
Whether you’ve already been burned (just like I have) or wanna get clued-up on this “affiliate marketing” thing before venturing out…
Then this article is for YOU!
Because I’m about to expose 4 types of pitfalls that you must steer clear of IF you actually wanna succeed as an affiliate.
So without further ado, let’s get this show on the road…
Blog Post Contents:
4 Toxic Affiliate Marketing Scams That’ll Take You For a Ride
In all my years online, I think I’ve fallen for just about every affiliate marketing scam under the sun…
Before Wealthy Affiliate (the knight in shining armour) came to my rescue. 😉
But even in today’s digital world, those scams are still spreading like wildfire.
Especially with the “you know what” virus that’s brought the world to its knees.
So it’s doubly important that you don’t get sucked in by narcissists and their toxic schemes highlighted below…
#1: “Get-Rich-Quick” – How to Lose Money, Fast!
It’s likely that you’ve crossed paths with these types of affiliate marketing scams that basically promise you “push-button” riches overnight…
Using some “secret weird trick”, without breaking into a sweat, and for a tiny $9, $37 or $47 one-time investment, right?
For example:
I dunno about you, but I hate these the most that are generally sold through marketplaces like ClickBetter and ClickBank.
Not that I’m discrediting ClickBank because it’s legit – It just lets itself down at times by allowing scammers to swindle folks.
I digress.
The truth be told, the concept of get-rich-quick is nothing but a fairy tale myth invented by scamsters to fool naive newbies.
What generally happens with these outlandish products is that you get some generic and outdated training and/or software that’s about as useful as a chocolate teapot…
And then you’re tricked into splashing out $100s (that’s lost to the wind) on junkie upsells.
I dunno if this has already happened to you…
But in some cases, newbies get *GASP* ZERO product access for their hard-earned $100s!
So definitely watch your step when it comes to the get-rich-quick brigade.
#2: The “How to Win a Newbie Over With Hype” Approach
These sorts of products are just about as bad as the get-rich-quick ones, if not worse, in my opinion.
Because the sales pitches usually spew out all sorts of outlandish claims that are music to newbies’ ears like:
“This is a never-been-seen before newbie-friendly method”…
“You can set it up in just 30 minutes”…
“It takes just one hour of work from you daily”…
“Get paid $100 over & over per day”…
“All it costs is just $7.95 one-time”…
Blah, blah, blah.
You’ve probably heard all the hype before from the small-time internet marketers, right?
But the truth is a whole lot different because the majority of these products only offer you a small taster of training for your investment…
Money-making training, that not only fails to piece together the puzzle – making life harder for newbies, but also doesn’t match up to the hype.
Again, this is all intentional because it’s to push you into buying ‘Done-For-You’ upsells in terms of campaigns and traffic packages.
Don’t get me wrong, I hold nothing against upsells…
But there are some product publishers who just lack moral integrity for their own personal gains from the offset.
What’s even worse is that launch jackers follow in their footsteps as their affiliates…
Because they buy the hyped-up product resell rights to earn 100% commissions, and then publish biased reviews to turn a buck.
So pay no attention to what most of those folks tell you on how amazingly awesome their products are at making you stacks of easy cash…
It’s just B.S.
RECOMMENDED: Read My Review of Work At Home Secrets & Scams For More Insights Into Dodging Crap Online.
#3: High-Ticket Schemes – The Risky Way to Try & Make Bank
The high-ticket affiliate marketing model seems to be all the rage these days… Well among “opportunists” anyway.
There’s the right way to go about doing big-ticket…
Which is to join an affiliate program like Amazon for FREE and promote Rolex watches on your blog for sizable commissions, for example.
And then there’s the wrong way to practice high-end affiliate marketing…
Which is to join a “pay-to-play scheme”…
Where the name of the game is to pay $1,000s for an overpriced system/program/training course just to earn mega commissions off of your recruits.
And then you hop on Facebook to brag about the “$10K in 30 days” you’ve made, and brainwash your audience with the whole “baby commissions suck” thing.
Seriously, these schemes are the opposite of cool – they’re actually starting to give the affiliate marketing world a bad reputation.
Because they’re just downright unethical, at the end of the day.
This is why regulatory entities like the Federal Trade Commission, Competition Bureau, and the Securities and Exchange Commission are clamping down.
Here’s some juicy proof to feast ya eyes on:
FTC Action Halts MOBE, a Massive Internet Business Coaching Scheme.
So if anyone wants to run with the high-ticket wolves, then there will be many hefty prices to pay in the future, believe you me.
#4: Flat-Out Ponzi Schemes – Don’t Get Caught Selling Fresh (or Should I Say Polluted?) Air!
I guess this affiliate marketing scam kinda ties in with the high-ticket one I just talked about…
Except, with pyramid schemes that operate on numerous MLM-like levels – You pay a chunk of change (to the tune of $1,000s – $10,000s) just for a recruitment opportunity…
One, that doesn’t even involve tangible products or services – Ya know, just like those costly Crypto schemes that linger like a bad smell.
Again, the FTC, SEC, and other entities will soon be all over these so-called opportunities like a bad rash.
Which won’t end well for those egotistical and unethical folks partaking in such schemes either.
Because they won’t just lose cash, but will likely be held accountable for their actions, which in turn, will damage their reputations and credibility online.
So is it really worth getting involved in these illegal opportunities, you tell me, young grasshopper?…
If you wanna build a successful affiliate marketing Biz that won’t empty your pockets and land you in trouble, then check out Wealthy Affiliate.
Trust me, Wealthy Affiliate is the platform that saved my bacon and put me on the right track, and will do the same for you too.
My Final Conclusion on Affiliate Marketing Scams…
Unfortunately, many affiliate marketing scams are gonna be knocking around cyberspace until the end of time.
Especially when more folks are seeking job-replacing opportunities, and fraudsters continuously searching for new ways to trap newbies in their webs.
But just because they’re up to new tricks, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to fall for them.
Because there are precautionary measures you can take to combat the dirtballs.
For example; if a product or opportunity seems off like sour milk, then simply do your due diligence before handing over the spondoolies…
By collecting the thoughts and opinions of other marketers on Facebook, other social media channels, and forums.
And/or conducting Google and YouTube searches for reviews and complaints.
At the end of the day, learning to avoid affiliate marketing scams like the plague isn’t exactly rocket science – sometimes just go with your gut instinct.
The great news is that there are many legitimate platforms that help you get started with affiliate marketing and kick ass, the Karate Kid way.
Just don’t fall for all the Cobra Kai nonsense that shows you no mercy.
Your buddy, Neil 😀
Do you have any questions or thoughts to share on scams in the affiliate marketing arena? Please jump on the conversation below…
I really do find this helpful as I am a newbie in this online affiliate marketing game.
I have seen several of these scam pop-ups on my screen and I hope not to fall for any of this any time soon. I will also forward this to some of my friends who are also beginners.
Good stuff!
The best way of avoiding such affiliate marketing pitfalls is by doing your due diligence. Unfortunately, too many newbies jump into opportunities blindfolded without researching first, which can be a costly mistake (as some have already discovered for themselves).
Cheers, I appreciate you passing on this article. 🙂
I think there are so many people looking for an easy route to become rich. Which is impossible, I haven’t heard of anyone that became rich other than by winning the lottery. I also think that it attracts more scammers, so there are more and more out there.
One time an ad appeared on YouTube on how to make money on YouTube without making videos, and I clicked because I was curious about how it was possible. Then of course It took me to another long video that I didn’t watch, so I just decided to see on the internet, and of course, it was a scam and it’s how I found Wealthy Affiliate.
But I can imagine there are a lot more people paying for scams, which in my opinion is just awful.
I couldn’t agree with you more, Sofia!
Unfortunately, it’s a vicious cycle when it comes to lazy shiny object chasers and fraudsters. The latter group always wins.
As for your video ad experience, I think you just have to go with your gut instinct sometimes. So your decision certainly paid off. I just hope that more newbies do what you did for THEIR sakes.
Everything you say is so true and it is extremely important that affiliate marketers read that if they are at the beginnings or if they are thinking to leave their jobs.
Ponzi schemes in particular are always around and sometimes it is a little hard to identify them, so it is always very important to get as much info as possible!
It’s also about having common sense because why should the internet be any different from the offline working and business environment?
If folks want big success online, they should stop chasing the shiny object nonsense, seek a tried and true way to start an affiliate marketing business, and work their socks off.
And I agree, Ponzi schemes are disguised pretty well. But the warning signs are always there if you look closely enough.