Red Flags You're About to Get Scammed as a Creator
Red Flags You're About to Get Scammed as a Creator
Whether you're a full-time creator or building your digital hustle on the side, working with brands can be an exciting part of your journey. But as the creator economy grows, so does the number of SUS "collaboration" offers flooding DMs and inboxes. Some are well-meaning but unfortunately others can be straight-up predatory.
Here are some (unfortunately) all-too-common red flags to watch out for plus some real-Idalia examples & tips…..
Oh, and below I’m gonna share info on my LIVE SubStack so you can join me as we unpack the sneaky tactics brands use to exploit creators, and how to protect your time, talent, and content.
🚩 1. "You just need to pay for shipping!"
At first glance, this can sound innocent… maybe you can even consider it generous. A brand offers to send you a product for free (Wow! This may be the first time you get an offer like this) but there's a catch: you have to cover the shipping cost.
In reality, this is a classic bait-and-switch. Many of these brands make money off creators by overcharging for shipping or using the product as a cover to offload low-cost inventory. Worse, some never ship anything at all.
Example: A skincare brand offering a “free” $80 serum for "just $25 shipping." Turns out, the product retails for $10 elsewhere … oh and dozens of creators on Reddit and TikTok report never receiving anything.
What to do instead: Legitimate partnerships should never ask you to front money. If a brand truly values your content, they’ll cover all costs, including shipping.
🚩 2. “It’s a gifted collab… we’ll send you a [cheap product]!”
There’s nothing inherently wrong with gifted collaborations, I honestly think it can be a great entry point to working with the brand in a paid capacity in the future. But if a brand is offering you a $15 phone case in exchange for a professionally shot, edited, and captioned video, that’s not a collaboration my friend, that’s downright exploitation.
Example: During one of my labs, a creator with 10K followers was telling me that they offered a free pair of sunglasses in exchange for a Reel, Three IG Stories (with link clicks), and rights to repost the content indefinitely. The catch? The sunglasses retailed for $20…. and the ask would have taken hours of her time.
What to do instead: Calculate the value of your time and content. If the trade doesn’t feel balanced, don’t be afraid to counter with your rates or simply/politley decline.
🚩 3. “Hello dear” : Mass DMs with zero personalization
Hi, business rule #1: personalization matters. If a brand can't take the time to learn your name or reference your work, it’s a sign they’re copy-pasting messages to hundreds of creators.
This kind of outreach often comes from drop-shipping companies, shady “ambassador programs,” or social media managers trying to game the algorithm by tagging creators.
What to look out for:
Vague brand names or no brand name at all
Requests to “DM us to collab” in comment sections
Poor grammar or awkward phrasing
What to do instead: Treat your platform like your portfolio. Just as you wouldn’t respond to spammy job offers in your inbox, don’t entertain generic or sketchy DMs. And by the way guys, this same rule applies TO YOU. If you’re pitching a brand, don’t start the email with “Hello / Hello Dear".” Do everything in your power to find out the first name of the person receiving your pitch email. If not, guess what? The brands are gonna think YOU’RE SUS.
Want the full breakdown including how to spot scams before they hit your inbox, what a fair offer actually looks like, and how to professionally push back?
Join me for an exclusive SubStack Live on Monday, April 28th at 10 AM EST where I’ll share behind-the-scenes stories, practical scripts, and my personal checklist for vetting brand deals. PLUS we’re going to do an exclusive Q+A session where you can ask me anything about your brand partnerships! How cool is that?
This session (and the replay) is only available to paid subscribers, sooooooo if you’re serious about leveling up your creator game and protecting your value, this is one you won’t want to miss.
Don't forget to subscribe to my FREE Substack for more in-depth strategy, free messaging (can't wait to connect with you), exclusive videos, online course discounts, andddddd live video sessions.
XX Idalia