From the days of the snake oil salesman to today’s scams targeting grandparents, scammers have been part of society for a long time. And with the internet making it easier to connect with anyone in the world, it’s also, unfortunately, made it easier for scammers to reach more people. As you navigate the digital landscape, be sure to avoid falling into the traps of these top marketing scams. Here are some of the ones we see regularly.
1. Domain Name Renewal Scams
You’ve set up a website and a domain name, and it’s been a valuable tool for your business. But as your domain renewal approaches, you receive an official-looking letter in the mail claiming you owe hundreds of dollars to renew it.
This is a scam. In reality, most domain renewals only cost between $10-20 a year unless you’re dealing with a premium or in-demand domain. Scammers send convincing-looking letters or emails designed to make you believe you’re required to pay an inflated price. Read the fine print at the bottom of the notice. It is usually just an advertisement and you do not actually own anything. Always check the legitimacy of these notices and remember, they are often just unsolicited advertisements.
2. Pay to Grow Your Profile
If you’ve spent any time on Instagram, you’ve probably encountered offers to grow your followers quickly for a low fee—1,000 followers for just $10 sounds tempting, right?
Unfortunately, this is not only a scam but also a violation of Instagram’s community guidelines. Even if you do get followers, they’re usually bots or fake accounts, and worse, you risk getting your account banned. Paying for followers offers no real engagement and could harm your online presence in the long run.
A legit alternative?
Real social media growth takes time and effort. Focus on creating engaging content and building genuine relationships with your audience. Social platforms offer advertising options on professional accounts to increase engagement and attract your intended audience to your content and account. You will have more success in utilizing the platforms’ advertising tools than trying to pay for followers with an outside tool.
3. The Pay-Per-Click Hustle
As your business expands, you may decide to hire someone to manage your online advertising, particularly Pay-Per-Click (PPC) campaigns. This isn’t necessarily a scam because people should indeed get paid for the work they do to promote your business. However, we see some so-called experts charging large amounts of money each month without transparency on how much of that is actually going to your Google Ads or other PPC advertising. Some of these vendors provide no reporting and lofty promises. I would recommend you ask for the exact breakdown of how much is going towards your ad campaigns each month and what other services they are providing you each month.
Be wary of anyone guaranteeing top rankings. SEO is a long-term process that involves creating quality content and building a strong online presence. Be sure to research thoroughly when hiring anyone to manage your advertising efforts to avoid a costly mistake.
4. Disabled Facebook Page Scam
Ever received a frantic message from a page posing as “Facebook Administration Support” or some similar, or incorrectly spelled name, claiming that your page will be disabled unless you verify your account immediately? Don’t worry, your page will not be disabled. This is a phishing scam designed to get access to your personal information or your page itself. We see this one ALL THE TIME!
Facebook (or Meta) will never contact you through direct messages—any official communication will be sent through your notifications or Meta Business Suite. Don’t click those links, and report the message if you receive one.
In today’s digital world, marketing scams are increasingly sophisticated and easy to fall for, especially as online business and social media continue to grow. Whether it’s overcharging for domain renewals, fake follower schemes, or phishing attempts posing as official companies, staying alert can save you time, money, and energy. Protect yourself and your business by staying informed and being cautious of offers that seem too good to be true.
