They are an “Amazon Influencer” review social media account or a Gmail email whose sole purpose is to ask for an Amazon review in exchange for a PayPal refund + product. This is a significant issue for Amazon, as some brands attempt to cheat the system. Consequently, both the influencer and the brand can face trouble if they are caught.

You shouldn’t have to pay a brand to work with them. Avoid any upfront costs or shipping fees. Make sure you account for your costs when negotiating your rate (e.g., groceries for a recipe, specific required props).

Beware of “test” posts before they can confirm a long-term partnership. They’re most likely fishing for free ads. If they want proof of how it would do, they should ask for your Media Kit or Portfolio, thats what its there for (get your FREE portfolio template in our 7-week roadmap).

If the terms are unclear or there’s no agreement, it’s a red flag. Not all brands have contracts for tiny jobs, but always try to get a formal contract and lock in deadlines, deliverables, revision limits, usage-rights timeline, payment method etc. before you start. Have your own contract template to use in case the brand doesn’t have their own.

If they're asking for too many deliverables for the rate (or for the value of the gifted item), it’s not a fair exchange. It’s okay to walk away if you can't come up with something that is mutually beneficial. Save your time for brands that will pay the appropriate rate. You don’t want to be too busy when the right brand comes along.

If they want full creative control of an influencer post without your input, walk away. You’re posting to your community; it still needs to sound like you and fit your brand. It’s okay if they want full creative control of a UGC video, as long as you can deliver on it. It's theirs to post, after all.

Legit brands usually use a domain email. Be cautious with generic Gmail/Outlook; especially if they claim to be a big brand (have you gotten the fake FENTY gmail email yet? 😂). Small/new brands do use Gmail sometimes due to the cost of owning your own domain, but do the extra homework to be sure its a legit deal: audit their socials, website, reviews, Amazon store, etc.

If their communication feels off, trust your gut. Legit brands communicate clearly and professionally. Sloppy, impersonal, or AI-ish language, be cautious (Plenty of us use AI for grammar/translation, but real brands at least check after AI and edit it to make sure its right)