Rogue Affiliates Arouse FTC Interest
According to a number of emails I’ve received over the last 2 days, it looks like some affiliates are stretching the truth (OK, preying on the desperate) when it comes to promoting ‘government grant’ offers. Apparently they’re suggesting that the business opportunities offers they promote are somehow connected with President Obama’s federal stimulus fund package.
Here’s the email I got from the Offeratti network.
An issue of the utmost importance has been brought to our attention and we felt it important enough to make all of our valued Publishers aware of it. Currently the Federal Trade Commission has been on the rampage pursuing government grants sites and any website or campaign that claims to help a consumer qualify for a share of federal stimulus funds or recovery package money.
We at Offeratti are committed to maintaining all of our offers in a Federally compliant manner. To that end, we need to remind all of our Publishers that if they are making false claims or statements to the effect that any of our programs can or will assist a consumer in receiving the aforementioned Federal recovery funds. While we do not maintain any “government grants” offers that have been
specifically targeted by the FTC, we understand that some Publishers may blur the line in an attempt to encourage sales. Our Biz Opp offers are not in any way to be connected with the Federal recovery package.Publishers who do not follow these guidelines will be removed from the Program and their commissions will be forfeited.
All Offeratti Network Publishers must comply with the guidelines that are outlined at www.ftc.gov.
Please ensure that any advertisements you might use which are not already approved by your Affiliate Manager, are submitted for approval. Use of non-approved creatives, text ads and emails is grounds for dismissal from the Program.
While we love President Barack Obama and the spirit he has enlivened in the American people, we do not want to mislead any consumers into thinking that our campaigns are anything other than Work From
Home opportunites and not a way to participate in the Federal recovery funds.
Note especially the lines “Use of non-approved creatives, text ads and emails is grounds for dismissal from the Program” and “Publishers who do not follow these guidelines will be removed from the Program and their commissions will be forfeited“.
Quite frankly, I hope every affiliate that stooped that low is found, stripped of their commissions and never allowed to join another network or program. Not only do they give our industry as a whole a bad name, but they make merchants’ and managers’ lives difficult for having to souse them out to protect their brands and decrease creative marketing options for reputable affiliate marketers.
Boo! Hiss!!
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Rosalind Gardner is a Super Affiliate blogger, author, speaker, and Internet marketing consultant.
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You are dead on Rosalind. These leeches on the human condition have no place except being harassed and prosecuted by the FTC and consumer protection groups. Legitimate marketers need not worry.
There are many ways to earn income without scamming the desperate. A great corporate example of a good deed was yesterday’s FedEx Kinko’s free resume day. It was helpful, socially responsible, and showed what good marketing is.
Hi Rosalind, The article is very important and I’m glad to see you have posted it. I am seeing a trend towards a lot of this kind of dishonesty which gives us all an undeserved “Black Eye”. I don’t know if you are a Warrior Forum Member or not so I ask your permission to post your article there if your not? I will also put this on my blog with a link back if that’s ok with you? Let me know and Thanks for the Info! George
Hi George,
You’re most welcome and I am a Warrior member but you’re welcome to re-post my article — with attribution.
Best,
Ros
Thank you for your post. These slimeballs help give affiliate marketing a bad name. Those of us who do affiliate marketing ethically and legally have to speak out whenever we see these types of situations. I’m going to post a link to this on my blog. Keep up the great work! Sallie
Ros, I appreciate this. Thanks, George
How many of those “offers” come from foreign sites and can the FTC police those?
Thanks for the information Rosalind, as usual you have provided the best info around and we all need to keep abreast of what is happening in our industry! Another boo and hiss added to the chorus!
Ahh, I too received this type of email. Not for me specifically, personally, I believe it’s too sneaky of a way to promote them, and it’s just an invitation for the FTC to come on over and police their rules. Although, there are plenty of other legit ways to run the grants. I’m working on a project myself..