Is This Brand Deal a Scam?
Scams targeting creators are dressed as the deal you were hoping for. Paste the message and see which patterns it trips before you reply.
Runs in your browser. Nothing you paste is sent anywhere or stored.
How it works
The DM or email, with the sender’s address and any links left in.
Who they claim to be and, if you know it, the brand’s real website.
Each one links to the guide, with the exact next step and how to verify.
FAQ
How can I tell if a brand deal is a scam?+
Check the sender’s email domain against the brand’s real website, character by character. Then look for the classic asks: pay or buy something first, a mailed check or an overpayment, payment in gift cards or crypto, a move to WhatsApp or Telegram, or a request for your login, a code, or banking details. Any one of those is enough to stop and verify.
Is it safe to paste a message here?+
Yes. The check runs entirely in your browser with a set of pattern rules. Nothing you paste is sent to a server or stored, and there is no signup. Close the tab and it is gone.
Do real brands ever email from Gmail?+
Small brands and founder-run shops do, which is why a free inbox is a caution sign rather than a red flag. Verify by finding the brand’s site yourself and writing to the contact address listed there. A real founder will happily confirm from the company domain.
What if the brand is real but the person is not?+
That is the most common version now: a real brand’s name and logo, an impersonator behind it. The tell is the domain, a look-alike like brand-collab.com, or a free inbox. Never verify through a link in the message itself; go to the brand’s site on your own and ask there.
What should I do if I already replied or paid?+
Stop all contact and do not send anything else. If money left your account, call your bank or the payment app immediately and ask for a reversal. Change the password on any account you logged into or shared a code for, and turn on two-factor. Then report the account on the platform so the next creator sees the warning.
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