$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
influencer sponsorship scam
Scammers impersonate brands and offer content creators fake sponsorship deals, then request upfront fees for shipping, samples, or contracts that never materialize.
“online shopping scam”
↑ 184%Key indicators
Usually targetsContent creators
Often hitsFreelancers and contractors
Common regionUnited States
Last updated2026-04-04
Estimated impact
$640
median reported loss
Typical range$40 – $4.0K
Recovery rate~15%
Scam breakdown
1
Scammers scrape publicly listed email addresses or DM influencers posing as marketing managers from recognizable brands.
2
They offer an attractive sponsorship deal and send a convincing but fake contract.
3
Before sending products, they require an upfront fee for shipping or customs — once paid, the scammer disappears.
What to do first
Verify the offer by contacting the brand directly through their official website.
Related terms
fake brand dealphishing sponsorship offerinfluencer fee scamFake review scamsEmailSurgingContent creatorsSmall business ownersFreelancers and contractorsSmall business ownersPayroll, HR, and finance teamsUnited StatesUnited KingdomCanadafake brand dealphishing sponsorship offer
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Timothy, 35, a content creators, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate fake review scams situation while using Email. Scammers scrape publicly listed email addresses or DM influencers posing as marketing managers from recognizable brands.
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: They offer an attractive sponsorship deal and send a convincing but fake contract.
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: Before sending products, they require an upfront fee for shipping or customs — once paid, the scammer disappears.
The outcome
Timothy realized something was wrong when sponsorship email comes from a generic gmail or outlook address rather than a corporate domain. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Verify the offer by contacting the brand directly through their official website. Timothy's experience shows why sponsorship email comes from a generic gmail or outlook address rather than a corporate domain and you are asked to pay a fee for product shipping, contract processing, or tax clearance are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- Sponsorship email comes from a generic Gmail or Outlook address rather than a corporate domain
- You are asked to pay a fee for product shipping, contract processing, or tax clearance
- The brand name is slightly misspelled or the website URL does not match the real company
- Pause before paying, clicking, or sharing information. Scammers rely on speed.
- Verify the sender, company, or agency using a phone number or website you already know is legitimate.
- Treat secrecy, urgency, and off-platform payment requests as strong scam signals.
What to do now
- ✓Verify the offer by contacting the brand directly through their official website.
- ✓Never pay upfront fees for a sponsorship — legitimate brands cover their own shipping and product costs.
- ✓Check the sender's email domain carefully and search for reports of similar scams.
What to save before reporting
- ✓Save the message, profile, phone number, email, or URL that was used.
- ✓Keep payment confirmations, receipts, and account alerts before you dispute or delete anything.
- ✓Write down the timeline while the details are still fresh.
- ✓Keep the full sender address, domain, attachments, and—if possible—the raw email headers.
How big is this problem
You are not alone — this scam affects millions of people.
These numbers come from government agencies and official reports. If you have been affected, know that this is a widespread problem — not something that only happens to careless people.
FTC 2024 fraud losses
Imposters
Most common FTC fraud category in 2024
FTC says imposter scams remained the most commonly reported fraud category in 2024.
History and evolution
- This scam family tends to persist because the social-engineering pressure works even when the exact scripts, platforms, and payment methods change.
- The specific packaging evolves over time, but the core pattern usually stays the same: create urgency, control the channel, and push action before verification.
- The BBB has reported a steady rise in influencer-targeted scams, with fake sponsorship offers becoming one of the top complaints from content creators.
Recovery and follow-up
- ✓Save the messages, receipts, account alerts, and transaction details before you block or delete anything.
- ✓Report the scam through the official platform or government channel that best matches where it happened.
- ✓Verify the offer by contacting the brand directly through their official website.
- ✓Never pay upfront fees for a sponsorship — legitimate brands cover their own shipping and product costs.
- ✓Check the sender's email domain carefully and search for reports of similar scams.
Why this pattern keeps working
Even when the story changes, most scams still use the same pressure pattern: urgency, authority, and a request to move money or data fast.
The BBB has reported a steady rise in influencer-targeted scams, with fake sponsorship offers becoming one of the top complaints from content creators.
BBB Scam Tracker 2025
Where to report it
If you have been targeted by this scam, reporting it helps authorities track the pattern and protect others. United States has dedicated agencies that handle fraud reports.
ReportFraud.gov
Federal Trade Commission
Central U.S. consumer fraud reporting portal.
File an IC3 complaint
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
FBI portal for internet-enabled crime reports.
Start identity theft recovery
IdentityTheft.gov
Official U.S. identity theft recovery plan builder.
Explore further
Understand the bigger picture
Who is most at risk
Who this scam targets
Primary targets
Content creators, Small business owners
Geographic concentration
United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia
Primary channel
Email — Fake review scams
Why this group is vulnerable
Content creators are particularly vulnerable because this scam exploits trust in familiar brands, authority figures, and time-sensitive decisions. The rapid increase in reports suggests that awareness among this demographic remains low.
Sources and methodology
How we verify this information
OpenScam tracks scam patterns using a combination of government consumer protection databases (FTC, IC3, Action Fraud), platform-specific fraud reports, and verified consumer complaint data. Each entry is cross-referenced against at least two independent sources before publication.
Severity ratings are based on financial impact potential, reversibility of damage, and volume of reports across multiple reporting channels. Trend velocity reflects the rate of change in report volume over the most recent 90-day window.
This page was last verified on 2026-04-04. Red flags, recovery steps, and reporting resources are reviewed quarterly against current agency guidance.
Evidence and indicators
- The BBB has reported a steady rise in influencer-targeted scams, with fake sponsorship offers becoming one of the top complaints from content creators.
Source notes
- BBB Scam Tracker 2025
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about influencer sponsorship scam
How does the influencer sponsorship scam work?+
Scammers scrape publicly listed email addresses or DM influencers posing as marketing managers from recognizable brands. They offer an attractive sponsorship deal and send a convincing but fake contract. Before sending products, they require an upfront fee for shipping or customs — once paid, the scammer disappears.
What are the warning signs of influencer sponsorship scam?+
Sponsorship email comes from a generic Gmail or Outlook address rather than a corporate domain You are asked to pay a fee for product shipping, contract processing, or tax clearance The brand name is slightly misspelled or the website URL does not match the real company
What should I do if I encounter influencer sponsorship scam?+
Verify the offer by contacting the brand directly through their official website. Never pay upfront fees for a sponsorship — legitimate brands cover their own shipping and product costs. Check the sender's email domain carefully and search for reports of similar scams.
Who is most at risk for influencer sponsorship scam?+
This scam primarily targets Content creators, Small business owners. It is most commonly reported in United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and typically appears on Email.
Is influencer sponsorship scam getting worse?+
influencer sponsorship scam is currently surging — reports are increasing rapidly. It has been reported across US, UK, CA, AU. Last updated 2026-04-04.
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Help someone avoid this scam.
Scammers succeed because people do not talk about it. If you or someone you know has been affected, there is no shame in it — it happens to millions of people every year. Share this page with friends and family so they know what to look for.
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